INEC deregisters more parties

INEC chair, Attahiru Jega

Inspite of the hue and cries that greeted the deregistration of 28 political parties in Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the commission on Friday deregistered three more parties.

In a press statement signed by the Secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Kaugama, INEC said it took its power from the 1999 Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (As amended).

The affected political parties according to the statement are: African Renaissance Party (ARP); National Democratic Party (NDP) and  the National Transformation Party (NTP).

According to  Kaugama, the de-registration of both African Renaissance Party andNational Democratic Party is premised on the allegations that the composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the parties fail to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).

INEC further alleged that the parties have “no verifiable Headquarters office contrary to the provisions of Section 222(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended)” and have “not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies”

In case of the National Transformation Party (NTP) INEC said it was deregistered because the composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party fails to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and the NTP has not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies.