BREAKING: INEC Deregisters 74 Political Parties For Non-Performance

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the deregistration of 74 political parties in the country.

INEC announced the development at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja Thursday.

The electoral body had disclosed that the 2019 general elections was contested by 91 registered political parties.

Meanwhile, only 74 parties fielded candidates for the presidential election that was held on February 23, 2019.

The Nigerian 1999 Constitution and the Nigeria Electoral Act, 2010 empowers INEC to deregister political parties who fail to have the required spread.

Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that INEC can deregister political parties on grounds of breach of any requirement for registeration

Some of theses requirements include failure to win at least 25% of votes cast in one state in a presidential election, or in one local government of a state in a governorship election.

Also, the party that fails to win at least one ward in chairmanship election, one seat in the national or state assembly election or one seat in the councilorship election qualifies for deregisteration.