Democratic Socialist Movement

For Struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria

By - DSM

INEC PLOT TO FORCE THE SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT OVER NUP DEREGISTRATION ON ALL OTHER DISREGISTERD POLITICAL PARTIES IS MISCHIEVOUS

WE DEMAND THE REINSTATEMENT OF ALL DEREGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES AND INSIST THAT NEITHER THE SPN NOR 21 OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES ARE AFFECTED BY THE SUPREME JUDGEMENT

The Socialist Party of Nigeria, SPN faults the deliberate moves by the Independent National Electric Commission (INEC) to force the recent Supreme Court judgement that affirms INEC’s power to deregister National Unity Party (NUP) on other deregistered political parties specifically the SPN and 21 other political parties with favourable Appeal Court judgement that earlier nullifies their deregistration by INEC. The Appeal Court judgment in question specifically ordered INEC to reverse the deregistration of SPN and 21 others because INEC failed to follow due process while implementing section 225A of the 1999 Constitution as amended which empowered INEC to deregister political parties.

Therefore, the Supreme Court judgement affirming the power of INEC to deregister NUP does not affect SPN and 21 other political parties. The matter between 22 political parties and INEC is different and quite distinguishable in term of prayer and context to the one filed by NUP. The question of whether or not INEC followed due process in exercising its power to deregister SPN and 21 other political parties is the context of the matter between 22 parties vs INEC. This is unlike NUP vs INEC that the power of INEC to deregister political parties is the bone of contention.

In fact, the same power of INEC to deregister parties was equally recognized in the Court of Appeal judgment on 22 Parties Vs INEC. Nevertheless, the same judgement still went ahead to nullify the deregistration of SPN and 21 other parties and order INEC to reinstate them on the ground that INEC failed to follow a due process in exercising its power. The INEC appeal at the Supreme Court against this favourable court of appeal judgment is still pending as it is yet to be decided. Except the Supreme Court upturns this judgement, it remains valid and binding on INEC. It is in the light of this, we reiterate our demand for INEC to comply with the Appeal Court judgement and reinstate SPN and the other 21 political parties rather than being mischievous by trying to use some media organisations to peddle falsehood and misinform the general public. Take for instance, the Daily Post’s report on the Supreme Court judgement on NUP was done in such a manner that gives the impression that the judgement is against all the 73 deregister political parties.

SPN condemns the kind of desperation exhibited by INEC following the Supreme Court judgement on NUP deregistration by trying to force the judgement on other 73 political parties that are not party in the matter. This kind of desperation displayed by INEC and its fragrant and reckless disobedience of the judgment of the Court of Appeal to reinstate SPN and 21 other parties for over nine months now is undemocratic and unlawful.

This further showed that the so-called amendment of the constitution that preceded the deregistration of SPN and 73 other political parties after section 225A that empowers INEC to deregister parties was successfully smuggled into the constitution is a strategy of the self-serving ruling elite and INEC to condemn Nigerians to two or three bourgeois parties that are absolutely the same and give no real choice to the working masses. Otherwise, there is no justification for deregistering political parties because they did not score ‘electoral victory’ in highly monetized and violently rigged elections. Especially when electoral contests, just like any other contest, will churn out winners and losers.

Except this kind of obnoxious amendment is defeated Nigerians will always be forced to vote APC, PDP, APGA and other parties of the exploiters and looters. This means that the capitalist ruling elite will continue to be in power with rising cases of mass poverty, misery and joblessness in the midst of abundance while the basic infrastructure will continue to elude us as a country including unprecedented insecurity etc. It is in a quest to forestall this kind of ugly possibility, we call on the working masses and the leadership of their traditional organisations like NLC, TUC and pro-working people political organisations like JAF, to join us in SPN and help to build and strengthen it to be able to challenge and defeat the capitalist political parties and ruling elite and democratically manage societal resources to meet the needs of all.

Abiodun Bamigboye                                                                     Chinedu Bosah

Acting National Chairperson                                                        National Secretary

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.socialistpartyofnigeria.org.ng