IPAC Backs INEC On Deregistration Of 74 Parties

Nigeria’s 18 remaining parties on Tuesday backed the recent deregistration of 74 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a communique signed at the end of an emergency meeting by the political parties under the umbrella of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the Council said this action of INEC flows from the provisions of Section 225 A of the 4th Alteration No. 9 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“It is therefore based on the lawfulness of the action of the Commission, the desirability of the need to sanitize the electoral space that we the 18 political parties in Nigeria hereby endorse this bold step by INEC and commend it for this worthy cause,” the Council said in the communique signed by representatives of the 18 political parties.

It said while the news of the deregistration was met with mixed feelings because the 74 Political Party chairmen who have been sacked are colleagues and allies who have in very many cases and at various places stood up for Nigeria and defended her cause, “It is this will to implement the law despite whose ox is gored that we require for our nation building.”

It however said the IPAC being the vehicle through which the political parties collectively engage with the INEC and other stakeholders in the electoral system recognizes that this sanitization also created a vacuum in the leadership of the Council and in other to ensure the seamless contribution of the political parties to our electoral development, the parties resolved to set up an Interim Management Committee to run the affairs of the Council.

The membership of this Committee shall be drawn from only the existing political parties and shall serve pending the time a proper election will be conducted.

The Interim Management Committee is headed by Chairman of the African Action Congress, Dr. Leonard Nzenwa

The communique said “this Interim Committee shall commence work immediately with INEC and other stakeholders including the National Assembly with a view to ensuring that the electoral reform processes which shall clean up our electoral system is elaborate and conclusive.”