..As body breaks silence on parties deregistration
By Ujah Simon, Kaduna
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 fruitless legal adventure.
The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria, disclosed this in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu at the weekend.
CNPP expressed surprised that INEC continue in 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, declared that INEC has no powers to deregister political parties.
The body recalled that supreme court declared that INEC has no power to deregister political parties. when same matter was brought before it by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, CNPP National Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and others.
“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 it 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.
“We call on the Commission to conserve scarce resources as it clearly lack powers it is exercising”, CNPP stated.
