The Independent
National Electoral Commission INEC has deregistered 74 out of Nigeria’s 92
political parties for their lackluster performance in the 2019 general
elections. Some of the deregistered parties include All Blending Party,
Advanced Allied Party, We the People Nigeria, Sustainable National Party and
Youth Party.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who made the declaration
at a news conference Thursday in Abuja also announced September 19, 2020 for
the governorship election in Edo, and October 10, 2020 for the governorship
election in Ondo. He said the decision of the commission to deregister the
parties was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as
well as the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
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Consequently, only 16 of Nigeria’s 92 registered political
parties escaped deregistration by INEC. Yakubu listed the 16 lucky parties
as Accord Party, Action Alliance,
African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, African Democratic Party
and All Progressives Congress.
Others are All
Progressives Grand Alliance, Allied Peoples Movement, Labour Party, New Nigeria
Peoples Party and National Rescue Movement. Those who also escaped
deregistration are the Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party,
Social Democratic Party, Young Progressive Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
However, one of the parties, Action Peoples Party was “technically” not deregistered
following a court order restraining INEC from doing so pending the
determination of its case by the court. Also, the new political party, Boot
Party BP which was registered by a Court order after the 2019 general elections
will continue to exist bringing Nigeria’s registered political parties now to
18.
Rationale for deregistration Explaining the rationale for
its decision, INEC said; “You will recall that prior to the 2019 general
elections, Nigeria had 91 political parties. One more party was registered by
court order after the elections, making a total of 92 political parties. The
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) vests in INEC
the power to register and regulate the activities of political parties. You
will also recall that in 2018, the Constitution was amended. In addition to the
extant provisions for the registration of political parties, the Fourth
Alteration to the Constitution (Section 225A) empowers the Commission to
deregister political parties.
“Prior to the Fourth Alteration, the Electoral Act 2010 (as
amended) had provided for the deregistration of political parties. Based on
this provision, the Commission, between 2011 and 2013, deregistered 39
political parties. However, several of the parties challenged the power of INEC
to deregister them, particularly on the ground that the Electoral Act is
inferior to the Constitution and that deregistration infringed their
fundamental rights under the same Constitution. Subsequently, the courts
ordered the Commission to reinstate the parties. It was for this reason that
the National Assembly amended the Constitution to empower the Commission to
deregister political parties on the following grounds: “Breach of any of the
requirements for registration as a political party.
“Failure to win at least 25% of the votes cast in one State
of the Federation in a Presidential election or 25% of the votes cast in one
Local Government Area of a State in a Governorship election.
“Failure to win at least one ward in a Chairmanship election,
one seat in the National or State Assembly election or one seat in a
Councillorship election.
“In order to implement the provisions of the Fourth
Alteration to the Constitution, the Commission carried out an assessment of
political parties to determine compliance with the requirements for their
registration. Similarly, following the conclusion of the 2019 general election,
including court-ordered re-run elections arising from litigations, the
Commission was able to determine the performance of political parties in the
elections. In addition, they were also assessed on the basis of their
performance in the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT) which coincided with the 2019 general election. It should be noted that
the FCT is the only part of the country where INEC is empowered by the
Constitution to conduct Local Government elections.
“Consequently, the Commission has determined that 16
political parties have fulfilled the requirements for an existence based on
Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)”.
Yakubu added that 75 political parties did not satisfy the
requirements of the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution.
“However, one of the political parties, the Action Peoples
Party APP, filed a suit in court and obtained an order restraining the
Commission from deregistering it. Consequently, the party remains registered
pending the determination of the case by the court. “The new political party,
Boot Party BP, registered by court order after the 2019 general elections will
also continue to exist.
“Accordingly, 74 political parties are hereby deregistered.
With this development, Nigeria now has 18 registered political parties”.
The INEC Chairman recalled that the tenure of the Governors
of Edo and Ondo States will end on 12th November 2020 and 24th February 2021
respectively, explaining that pursuant to the provisions of Section 178(2) of
the 1999 Constitution and Section 25(8) of the Electoral Act 2010, elections
cannot hold earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the
expiration of the term of office of an incumbent Governor.
“Accordingly, the Commission has fixed Saturday 19th
September 2020 as the date for the Governorship election in Edo State and
Saturday 10th October 2020 for Ondo State. Detailed Timetable and Schedule of
Activities for the two elections will be published on our website and social
media platforms shortly.
“Similarly, the Commission is conducting bye-elections in
three constituencies as a result of the deaths of some serving members of the
National and State Assemblies. The Honourable Speaker of the House of
Representatives has declared a vacancy in Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency of
Niger State. Similarly, the Honourable Speaker of the Kwara State House of
Assembly has declared a vacancy in Patigi State Constituency while the Speaker
of the Sokoto State House of Assembly has declared the Kebbe State Constituency
vacant. These bye-elections will hold simultaneously in the three states of the
Federation on Saturday 14th March 2020. Again, the detailed Timetable and
Schedule of Activities will be published on our website and social media
platforms shortly”, he added. He, however, reiterated the resolve the Commission
to stand firm against acts capable of disrupting the elections, saying;
“as we are all aware, the election is a process. The conduct
of party primaries, the nomination of candidates, electioneering campaigns and
the submission of the list of polling agents are also essential to the
electoral process. Above all, good behaviour by all officials and actors
involved is crucial for success. I wish to remind all parties and candidates
that violence during party primaries and electioneering campaigns, the
snatching of election materials or the deployment of thugs against INEC
officials, observers, the media and unarmed security personnel at polling units
are acts punishable under our electoral laws. Already, the political atmosphere
in a particular State is charged. No one should regard the release of the
Timetable for the elections as a signal to further escalate tension or a call
to commence the recruitment of goons and arming of thugs and hoodlums”.
(Vanguard)