Court Affirms Deregistration Of 32 Political Parties

The deregistration of 32 political parties was on Thursday, affirmed by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Anwuli Chikere, who gave the affirmation in her judgment, also dismissed the suit filed by the parties challenging the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister them.

According to Chikere, INEC was right to deregister the parties in line with the provision of section 225(a) of the Nigerian Constitution.

Recall that 74 political parties were in February 6, 2020, deregistered by INEC
for poor performance at the 2019 general elections.

The 32 political parties were among the parties.

Also, the parties, when they got to know that the commission was planning to deregister them, filed their suit in 2019 to restrain INEC from carrying out the exercise.

In February 17, 2020, the judge, had earlier issued an order restraining INEC from acting on the notice deregistering the 32 political parties, pending the determination of the suit.

Thursday’s court judgment has validated the commission’s restraining order.

Some of the affected 32 political parties are: Advanced Congress of Democrats, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, All Blending Party, All Grand Alliance Party, Better Nigeria Progressive Party, Democratic People’s Congress, Freedom and Justice Party, and Green Party of Nigeria.