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Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu
Chairman
Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Through
Resident
Electoral Commissioner (INEC)
Anambra
State
House
of Assembly Road
Awka
Dear Sir,
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFIED TRUE COPY (C.T.C) OF THE FULL
LIST OF ALL REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES ELIGIBLE TO SPONSOR CANDIDATES IN THE
FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA
I hereby apply for
Certified True Copy (C.T.C) of the Full List of All Registered Political
Parties eligible to sponsor candidates in the forthcoming General Elections in
Nigeria. This information is sought pursuant to Sections 2(1) & (3) and 5(a) of Freedom of Information
Act 2011. This application became necessary in view of the fact that INEC must
fully obey the Appeal Court Judgment in Appeal No.CA/E/170/2014 between
Barrister Jezie Ekejiuba V. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
& Anor which made an Order relisting all de-registered political parties in
Nigeria. INEC was stripped of its powers under Section 78(7)(i) & (ii) of
the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended) to de-register political parties in Nigeria
on 2nd day of June, 2016 when the judgment was delivered.
The Court of Appeal,
Enugu in its judgment made the following sweeping declaration and Orders in Reliefs
1, 3 and 4 granted to the Appellant, Barrister Jezie Ekejiuba namely:
“1.
A Declaration that the provisions of Section 78(7) of the Electoral Act, 2010
(As Amended) are from the date of the commencement of the said Act inconsistent
with and violate the provisions of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria
(As Amended) and are accordingly unconstitutional, null and void and
inoperative”.
“3.
An Order setting aside, nullifying and or voiding Section 78(7) of the
Electoral Act, 2010 (As Amended) pursuant to Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution
of Nigeria (As Amended)”.
“4.
An Order setting aside, nullifying all the steps or actions taken or being
taken by the 1st Defendant (INEC) based on or connected with or
relating to the exercise of powers under Section 78(7) of Electoral Act, 2010
(As Amended) including the de-registration and withdrawal of Certificate of
Registration of Seven (7) recognized political parties in Nigeria namely
Democratic Alternative (DA), National Action Council (NAC), National Democratic
Liberty Party (NDLP), Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Nigeria Peoples
Congress (NPC), Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP) and National Unity
Party (NUP) made on 18th August, 2011 by the Defendant (INEC)”.
The interpretation of
the Judgment as can be seen in Reliefs 1, 3 and 4 above is that all de-registered political parties in Nigeria
were restored back to life. While the
above Seven (7) political parties were de-registered on 18th August,
2011, Twenty-Eight (28) other political parties were de-registered on 6th
December, 2012 during the pendency of the suit bringing the total number of de-registered
political parties to Thirty-Five (35), which were the subject-matter of the
Appeal – hence this application to confirm due compliance with the Appeal Court
Judgment.
I will not hesitate to
file Form 49 against INEC Chairman
for disobedience of Court Order should the Commission treat this application
with levity. It is a waste of resources to embark on formation of new political
parties when there are already many political parties in existence. Nigerian
citizens deserve to know with certainty the full disclosure of the List of all
Registered political parties eligible to sponsor candidates in the forthcoming
General Elections and for the politicians to join these parties to contest elections
rather than forming new political parties.
Dated this 22th
Day of March, 2017.
Yours faithfully,
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BARRISTER JEZIE
EKEJIUBA
ONITSHA-BASED
HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
&
PRESIDENT,VOTERS RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL
Political Parties Qualified for General Elections in Nigeria
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, March 23, 2017
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