REACTIONS TRAIL DEREGISTRATION OF 28 POLITICAL PARTIES.

INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru  Jega

Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday deregistered 28 Political Parties and this action is already generating a lot of controversy, the commission did not state the reason for its action, but it is suspected that the licence granted some of the affected parties might have been withdrawn because of their inability to win any electoral seat in the 2011 elections and the fact the parties do not have national presence since some of them operate from the briefcase of the owner.

According to a statement by the Commission’s Secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama, INEC said it deregistered the 28 parties “in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). It pledged its commitment to relating with political parties in accordance with extant laws and for the benefit of the nation’s electoral democracy.

Masquerade234 gathered that some owners of parties have started reacting to the news, infact frontline politician Tunji Braithwaite last night rejected the deregistration and vowed to contest it. He accused INEC of infringing on the fundamental human rights of citizens. Braithwaite, who is NAP’s National Chairman, told one of our correspondents on the phone.

Another politician Balarabe Musa also said that the action of the electoral body would not stand. He said he was not told why his political party was de-registered, adding that they have contempt for those who think they can kill PRP and what it stands for. We will rely on Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution to continue to function as a political party and also continue the struggle for democracy. 

Infact some of those spoken to say INEC Chairman is just showing his true colour and that they would not allow a dictator to head the country's electoral body.

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