Court orders INEC to register new party

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register a new political party, Young Democratic Party (YDP), thus compounding the crisis in the commission. The ruling is coming three weeks to the commencement of the 2015 general elections which INEC is currently battling with the distribution of permanent voter cards (PVCs).

Justice Ahmed Mohammed in his judgment on the suit filed by the party challenging its denial of registration by the commission, held that YDP was deemed registered when INEC failed to inform the then political association of its decision not to register it as a political party within 30 days of receiving its application as required under Section 78 (4) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

INEC was said to have received the association’s application on April 1, 2014 but only notified the applicant of its decision not to register it on September 15, 2014. Osita Nwanjo, a counsel, said it is okay if it does not conflict with the provision of the Electoral Act. “I have seen the basis for the orders so i can’t say it stands or could be set aside. But if it goes against the letters of the Act INEC has to appeal it’’.

This development is coming when the electoral body seems to have completed issues and taken delivery of ballot papers. Analysts fear it could be almost impossible to include the name of the new party on the ballot papers for the elections, saying this is another challenge for INEC