Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has reacted to the legal
battle between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and
some deregistered political parties, urging INEC to stop wasting public
funds in the fruitless legal adventure.
The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political
associations in Nigeria in a statement signed by its Secretary-General,
Chief Willy Ezugwu, noted that “for INEC to continue in the fruitless
legal voyage by appealing the judgment of the Court of Appeal, even when
the Supreme Court had in its verdict on the same subject matter brought
before it by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, CNPP National Chairman, Alhaji
Balarabe Musa and others, declared that INEC has no powers to deregister
political parties.
“Despite other judgments of the courts in line with the Supreme Court
verdict in recent times, INEC has signified its intention to challenge
before the Supreme Court the judgment of the Court of Appeal ordering it
to re-list political parties it deregistered for allegedly falling short
of registration regulations.
“This was after the Commission failed to have its way in at the Court of
Appeal.
“Recall that INEC has continued to lose legal bid to deregister
political parties, which all ended in wanton waste of limited national
resources in the face of increasing hardship and economic deprivation
nationwide.
“Even when the court delivers judgment against its action, the
Commission has its own crooked manner of interpreting the judgment of
the court as on many occasions, INEC was seen carrying out selective
execution of court judgments.