INEC may deregister ANPP

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega

The Independent National Electoral Commission may deregister one of three major political parties in the country, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, over constitution violation

Investigations on Thursday  showed that the commission had, in a letter,   accused the party of making a false claim over the amendment of its constitution.

It was learnt that the party had been struggling to respond to the commission’s query.

The commission, it was learnt, would decide on the query issued to the ANPP after receiving the party’s response.

INEC, however, did not put a time frame within which the query must be answered.

It was learnt that the ANPP on January 22, 2013 had written INEC, informing the commission that it altered its constitution in 2011.

Investigations revealed that the commission, however, discovered that the party had amended its constitution since 2010.

Based on Section 222  of the 1999 Constitution as amended,  political parties are supposed to inform the commission of any alteration to their constitution within 30 days.

A stalwart of the ANPP, who pleaded anonymity, said the party was still battling to respond to INEC’s query, which had thrown it into confusion.

He said, “We are still confused about INEC’s query. As things are now, the commission can deregister us.”

When contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, confirmed that the commission wrote the ANPP over constitution violation.

He said, “It is true. In a letter dated January 28, we wrote to them that they should explain (the word deregistration was not used. I can read from the letter), having violated Section 222B of the 1999 Constitution, the ANPP   should show cause why it should not cease to function as a political party.”

Idowu explained that INEC’s letter was a follow-up to a letter written to the commission by the party.

He added, “What happened was that on January 22nd this year, they wrote us that they have amended their constitution and that the constitution was amended at their national convention held in 2011.

“But the commission notes that amendment was actually done in the convention that held on 18 and 19 September 2010, not 2011.

“Meanwhile Section 222B  of the Constitution  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended  reads  that no association (those are not my words. Those are the constitution words) by whatever name called shall function as a party unless any alteration in its registered constitution is registered in the principal office  of the Independent National Electoral Commission within 30 days of making such alteration.”

Asked if the party had given any explanation, Idowu said, “I am not aware of any explanation as I speak with you.”

He also explained that the INEC letter did not contain a time frame within which the ANPP must respond to accusation against it.

The Publicity Secretary of the ANPP, Mr. Emmanuel Eneukwu, refused to pick telephone calls to his mobile phone.

PUNCH