Sources: INEC to appeal judgement on deregistration of parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will appeal the judgement which nullified the deregistration of 22 political parties, according to sources.

A court of appeal sitting in Abuja voided the deregistration of 22 political parties on  Monday.

Earlier in the month, the same court had in the case of National Unity Party upheld and validated the power of INEC to deregister the parties.

Monday’s ruling now threatens the conduct of the Edo and Ondo governorship election which has been fixed for September 19 and October 10, 2020, respectively.

The deregistered parties were not included in the parties cleared for the election.

Though the court upheld the power of INEC to deregister parties in line with section 225 of the constitution, it held that INEC needed to prove that it complied with the procedure outlined.

The appeal filed by the deregistered parties did not challenge the procedure INEC adopted but rather the power of INEC to deregister them, according to a source.

The source said INEC will appeal against the judgment at the supreme court even as some chairmen of the parties have also indicated interest in appealing against the aspects of the appeal judgment which did not go their way.

“The supreme court will therefore be required to rule on the matter so that INEC can know one way or the other how to proceed with their preparations,” the source said.