22nd December, 2012
Eromosele Ebhomele
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday announced the de-registration of three more political parties after it earlier delisted 28.
The electoral body had, days ago, warned that it would wield the axe on some other moribund political parties in the country.
INEC, which said it was carrying out the action based on the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (As amended), listed the parties to include the African Renaissance Party (ARP); National Democratic Party (NDP); and National Transformation Party (NTP).
The INEC said the political parties were affected because their operations did not follow laid down rules and that they never won any elections in the country.
The electoral umpire said the affected parties’ composition of their National Executive Committee (NEC) failed to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).
INEC also said the affected parties had no verifiable headquarters contrary to Section 222(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended)
The statement which was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Abdullahi Kaugama, stated that, “the Commission reiterates its commitment to relating with all registered political parties as specified by the extant laws of the land.”