INEC deregistration: Supreme court affirms Youth Party as legal

The supreme court has affirmed Youth Party (YP) as a legal political party in Nigeria.

INEC had, in February 2020, deregistered some political parties — including the Youth Party — for “failing to meet the criteria provided for by section 225(a) of the 1999 constitution (as amended)”.

YP had challenged the deregistration before an Abuja federal high court.

While delivering the ruling in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/10/2020, Inyang Ekwo, federal high court judge, in October 2020, held that INEC’s decision was a breach of the political party’s right to fair hearing.

He said the electoral umpire breached YP’s right by deregistering it despite a pending case the party filed against INEC.

At the court of appeal, the high court’s verdict was affirmed and INEC’s appeal was dismissed.

INEC, thereafter, filed an appeal at the supreme court.

The apex court, in its judgment, affirmed the decision of the high court and the court of appeal.

Reacting to the verdict in a statement on its website, YP said the failure to register the party on time had adversely affected it.

“INEC’s abuse of power and disregard for the rule of law has illegally frustrated several of our members from legitimately pursuing their aspirations,” the statement reads.

“It has also cost the party an immeasurable amount of resources over the last few years. Thankfully, this illegality has ended.

“The decision of the supreme court also put paid to the orchestrated and incorrect media interpretation of the recent supreme court case involving NUP and INEC that it had effectively deregistered Youth Party and other parties.

“It is pertinent to state that Youth Party was not a party to the case and the facts of the case were different from its case.

“Essentially, it cannot serve as a judicial precedent against Youth Party as upheld by the supreme court today.

“Once again, we thank the Nigerian judiciary for giving us hope that the rule of law is still sacrosanct and the judiciary is the hope of our democracy.

“We enjoin INEC to respect the constitutional rights of our members and the Nigerian electorate to freely elect their leaders by allowing the candidates of the Party for the Eti Osa 1 House of Assembly Seat in Lagos State, Tari Taylaur, as well as its gubernatorial candidate in Abia State, Mrs Victoria Oluchi Farley-Bradford, to participate freely in the 2023 elections.”