The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday in Abuja said that the process of de-listing political parties was an ongoing exercise
Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Seven out of 63 political parties were de-listed after the general elections in April.
INEC boss while de-registering the political parties on Aug. 18 insisted that the commission acted in strict compliance with the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
Jega had argued that the de-listing was in line with section 78 (7) (ii) of the 2010 Electoral Act which empowers INEC to de-list any party that failed to win any seat in the general elections.
Section 78 (7) (ii) states that INEC : “shall have power to de-register political parties on the following grounds; (i) breach of any of the requirements for registration; (ii) for failure to win a seat in the National or State Assembly election.
Jega said that none of the affected parties fielded a candidate in any of the elections in the last elections and as such could not have won a seat in any of the poll.
Kayode pointed out that some political parties had yet to be de-registered though they failed to win elections because they were one way or the other involved in litigations.
“But because they were in one way or the other involved in legal processes since after the elections.
“Those that did not win elections and have no cases in court either directly or by association have been de-listed.
“Those remaining are those that did not win elections of course, but they either have cases they have taken to court or that involve them.
“And on such practice you can’t take action until those legal processes are resolved,’’ Idowu said.