“For the avoidance of doubt, the fee has not but registered any new celebration. The present variety of registered political events in Nigeria is nineteen. Nothing has been added,” INEC acknowledged through its official deal with.
INEC famous that each political {groups} talked about had been initially registered in August 2013 however had been among the many 72 deregistered in February 2020, in keeping with Part 225A of the 1999 Structure.
‘No Registration by Blackmail’ — INEC Warns
Amid stress from varied political figures and coalitions in search of registration, INEC burdened that the celebration registration course of is a authorized, not political, train.
“Quite than making an attempt to blackmail INEC with unfounded accusations, {groups} that utilized for registration as political events ought to submit genuine, verifiable paperwork and adjust to all the necessities for registration,” stated Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
In response to The PUNCH, he reiterated that the fee prioritises the standard of functions over their amount, and solely those who totally meet constitutional tips can be authorised.
“The variety of functions that the fee receives shouldn’t be as essential because the variety of candidates that may efficiently fulfill the factors for registration,” he added.
INEC’s place comes amid allegations by political stakeholders that the fee is intentionally stalling the registration of recent events.
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accused the INEC Chairman of blocking opposition efforts. Talking on Come up TV, he stated: “The present chairman of INEC, if he had been the chairman of INEC in 2015, we’d not have gained. Might God bless Jega… After we had been to register APC, Jega opened the door and we complied with the registration necessities. The present man, for those who adjust to all these, he wouldn’t register you.”
Musician and activist Seun Kuti, who leads Motion of the Folks — a political group impressed by his father Fela Kuti’s legacy — additionally criticised INEC’s conduct.
“Since 2018, no new political celebration has been registered in Nigeria, whereas 72 present events have been deregistered. This extreme restriction limits residents’ political decisions and undermines true democratic illustration,” Kuti stated in an announcement.
Former Secretary to the Authorities of theFederation, Babachir Lawal, and APC chieftain Salihu Lukman have equally voiced issues about INEC’s posture.
INEC Outlines Robust Circumstances for Social gathering Registration
In his remarks to The PUNCH, Oyekanmi outlined the great situations associations should meet to achieve celebration standing underneath the 2022 Rules and Tips for Political Events.
These embrace:
Submission of a letter of intent not later than 12 months earlier than the overall election.
Cost of an administrative charge.
On-line submission of paperwork through an entry code issued by INEC.
Required paperwork embrace:
The proposed celebration’s structure and manifesto.
Proof of lawful occupation of headquarters in Abuja.
A register of members containing names, contact info, and addresses.
Affidavit from the chairman or secretary verifying the authenticity of paperwork.
Proof that the Nationwide Government Committee displays the Federal Character precept (members from at the least 24 states and the FCT).
“The place at any stage of the registration course of it’s found that the identical set of individuals submitted multiple utility, or any facet of the submission is fake, such utility shall be invalidated,” Oyekanmi warned.
He assured that candidates are persistently up to date on the standing of their submissions inside the stipulated timeline.
INEC emphasised that its actions are guided strictly by legislation, and it’ll proceed to conduct all electoral issues with transparency and integrity.
“The fee stays dedicated to upholding constitutional provisions in all electoral processes,” it stated.