PARTY leaders affected by Thursday’s decision by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission to scrap 28 political parties in the country from its list of registered parties are describing the action by the Commission as a human right violation.
One of the leaders, Dr. Yunisa Tanko said the Commission, known by its acronym, INEC, ought to be charged for contempt of court for what he described as its infringement of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, as well as its violation of Nigerian laws.
Tanko is the chairman of the National Conscience Party, NCP.
According to Tanko, there is still an ongoing court case in a Lagos High Court between INEC and NCP, and many other political parties, on the same issue.
In his view, INEC acted with disregard for the law of the land.
“Injury to one is injury to all, Nigerians are now being disenfranchised by INEC, this is unacceptable, the law court will interpret this again,” he said.
Similar remarks were made by Mr. Charles Nwodo, the National Chairman PAC, who described INEC’s decision as a “mockery of the nation’s democracy”.
Mr. Nwodo expressed disappointment that INEC did not seek inputs from stakeholders before its unilateral decision to delist the parties from INEC’s party-roll, adding that the reasonable thing to do was for INEC to await the outcome of pending court cases.
“We are going to test our strength again at the court of law, it is against the law of the land and undemocratic to de-register 28 parties, who knows how many will follow,” he said.
The party boss expressed concern that Nigeria may be headed to emerging a one-party state, as opposed to what he currently sees as a level playing field.
“Nigeria cannot have one-party state and democracy is all about participation, if other nations with just 10 million or less are having more than 100 political parties, then why regimentation in Nigeria?” he questioned.
Nwodo faulted INEC’s reason for the action, which it said was based on poor performance of the political parties and the fact that the affected parties had no offices in the 36 states of the federation.
According to him, that the parties have not won a seat, even at the local government level, should not be a basis for their de-registration.
“Historically, INEC must know that at a time AD had more than 60 honourable members and governors and PPA had two governors. If today they are not there, it is not the end of life,” he explained.
Malam Balarabe Musa, National Chairman PRP, said in a telephone interview with NAN that the commission owed the party full explanation on the de-registration, a development he described as an embarrassment.
He said, “We have contempt for those who think they can kill PRP and what it stands for.
“This de-registration will not stand because to me, it is a big embarrassment to my political life and the beginning of a democratic dictatorship in Nigeria.”
He said that PRP had been in existence for long pointing out that the party had contributed to democratic development of the nation.
“It is a matter we shall address. We will not accept it. It is an interference with the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people,” he said, adding that he was not told why his political party was de-registered.
Musa said that PRP would rely on section 40 of the 1999 Constitution to continue to function as a political party.