SPN Registration: The Matter Adjourned to May 21 for Amicable Settlement Out of Court
SPN Registration: The Matter Adjourned to May 21 for Amicable Settlement Out of Court
By Dimeji Macaulay
SPN members including National Chairperson at a brief demo at the court prermises – photo DSM
The legal suit of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) came up at the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday March 3 before Justice Gabriel Kolawole. The date had been fixed for hearing by the court to hear the originating application filed by the SPN.
However, before the commencement of the hearing, the INEC lawyer had, in a brief meeting with the SPN lawyer and the party’s National Chairperson, informed us of the INEC’s preparedness to reconsider the application for the registration of our party.
At the hearing, the SPN lawyer informed the court of this development from INEC, and after confirmation by the INEC lawyer, the court subsequently granted an adjournment of the matter to May 21, 2015 for the report of amicable settlement envisaged by the two parties or in the alternative the hearing of the SPN originating application.
For members of the SPN, this decision to reopen the registration of the party by INEC which it had earlier “terminated” represents a minor victory in the political and legal struggle for the registration of the party. We shall not however rest on our oars as we have resolved to use all legal and political means to ensure the registration of the party having fulfilled all legally stipulated requirements for registration as a political party.
Eleven members of the party including 3 NEC members – namely Segun Sango, National Chairperson; Zira Nuhu, Deputy National Chairperson North East and Sulaimon K Muhammed, NEC member from Niger State – were in court and also participated in brief demo held in the court premises as part of activities to further the agitation for the registration of the party.