33 deregistered parties in court against INEC – NCMP

About 33 parties have approached the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from going ahead with the deregistration of 74 political parties, the Nigeria Community Movement Party, has revealed.

The party, which said the parties took the action restraining the electoral body not to act until the court gives a pronouncement, added that the case would have its final hearing on February 17, 2020.

The National Chairman of NCMP, Babatunde Ademola, who contested as a presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections spoke on Sunday condemned the de-registration of political parties by INEC.

He said, “33 parties are in court over the matter, INEC has acted without integrity and this is a political fraud. INEC cannot act without waiting for what the court has to say. The case is still in court and will have its final ruling on Monday, February 17. The case had been heard, the court had sat four times without the appearance of INEC in court. The office of the Attorney General of the Federation was joined in the suit and it only appeared in court once.

“If INEC will authoritatively deprive 74 political parties from participating in the forthcoming elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra states and other local council elections coming up, this is to be noted as hostility towards a democratic state.

“We are in court, we will protest, we will ensure that every lawful and legal means is taken to stop this fraud on Nigerians again. We are very sure of the fact that the court will protect the interest of all Nigerians and restore political parties. The court will not allow INEC to take such powers that does not belong to it for posterity sake.”