The Supreme Court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the deregistered Youth Party (YP) as the 19th political party, and INEC eventually complied yesterday.
Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee made a statement in which the commission conditioned recognition on the outcome of exacting legal procedures.
The commission also stated that it had recognized YP as Nigeria’s 19th political party, with all the benefits and powers that are given to political parties in that country.
“INEC met today, Thursday, and among other issues deliberated on the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the deregistration of the Youth Party (YP) as a political party.
“It will be recalled that the Youth Party (YP) was registered on 16th August 2018 under the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on October 16, 2017.
“Following the commission’s decision to deregister some parties per Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Youth Party approached the Federal High Court and secured an Order restraining the commission from deregistering it.
“On appeal by the commission, the Court of Appeal set aside the Order of the Federal High Court and on further appeal by the party, the Supreme Court set aside the deregistration of the party,” the commission explained in the statement.
Defending the recognition, INEC noted that; “based on the judgment of the Supreme Court, the commission interfaced with officials of the Youth Party on the modalities for its operation based on the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.
“Consequently, the commission has recognized the Youth Party (YP) as the 19th political party in Nigeria with all the rights and privileges accorded political parties in Nigeria.”
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