INEC de-registers three more parties

By JOSEPH ERUNKE, Abuja

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  Friday, axed three more political parties even as the recent de-registration of 28 others continues to generate controversy.

The present action has brought the number of de-registered political parties to 31.

INEC,in a statement in Abuja, said the action was in continuation of the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (As amended).

The statement, signed by Abdullahi Kaugama,Secretary to the Commission named the latest affected parties as African Renaissance Party,ARP;  National Democratic Party,NDP and National Transformation Party, NTP.

According to INEC, “the de-registration of the parties  was based on the ground that the compositions of the  parties’  National Executive Committee,NEC, fails to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended),just as it said it lacked verifiable headquarters offices, contrary to Section 222(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended).

The other sin of the parties,according to INEC,was that they have  not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies.

”The Commission reiterates its commitment to relating with all registered Political Parties as specified by the extant laws of the land”,the statement said.