INEC May Register More Parties 2015 Elections – Jega
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has assured that many political groups or associations seeking to be registered as political parties may be so registered before the general election in 2015 in the country.

Speaking at a public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on INEC on Tuesday, Jega stated that it is the responsibility of INEC to register political parties.

He also said that INEC has no powers to declare the seat of any political office holder vacant, if there is no established case of crisis in his or her party upon defection to another party.

The INEC boss noted that there are presently 26 political parties in the county and submitted that more political associations can be registered into parties before the 2015 general elections, if the constitutional requirements are met by these political groups.

Jega further said that no political party has been engulfed in any form of crisis that has necessitated the defection of its members or indeed any elected public official to another political party.

He pointed out that it has not been confirmed that there is crisis in any party, saying that “there is absolutely no crisis in any political party in the country.”

According to him, if there is anything to be done to by the commission in order to declare the office of any elected public official vacant, it can only be done when there is a clearer definition of what is crisis by a competent court of law in the country.

While fielding questions from some. of the lawmakers on the rationale for the deployment of the military and other security personnel during the recently held gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, Jega said that it requires an average of three policemen to provide security of a polling unit during an election.

Jega, who said the commission would adopt what he called Election Risk Management Tools (ERMT) during the general elections in 2015, explained INEC’s deployment of the military in the previous elections as a decision based on security assessment reports by the security agencies.

The INEC chief further explained that the military does outside cordon duties during elections and added that all the military men thus far deployed to oversee the conduct of gubernatorial election in Ekiti and Osun states were taken from the brigades covering those states.

Speaking against the backdrop of disenfranchisement of some voters and the preparedness of INEC to conduct a hitch free election in 2015, he said “in line with international best practices,security officials on election duties will be enfranchised to vote.”

The proposed amendments were contained sections 8(1), 11,13,18,27,28,29,31,33,45,47,63, 65,74,77,86,87,90,94,99,100, 117(A), 123, 138,143 and deletion of paragraph 51(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010.

The INEC boss who supported the proposed amendments to the principal Act was in agreement with some political party chieftains and other relevant stakeholders.

Earlier in his remarks, chairman of the committee Hon. Jerry Manwe, said that the committee will be impartial in their report on the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2010.

The public hearing is titled: A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act No 6,2010 And For Other Matters Connected Therewith 2014.

Ngwakwe: The headline is wrong, it should read Nigerian Constitution and 2007 Electoral law as ammended allow the registration of New political parties

berem: does the same law allows the deregistration of political parties too?

theassassin:

egift: INEC chairman de-registered 28 parties, now he wants to register new ones. Many people cannot find their voters cards, politicians are campaigning when there is a sub sitting ban on campaigns.

Yet all Jega want is to register new parties for some disgruntled politicians.

barcanista:
You need to understand that politicians and parties especially the ruling PDP are manipulating the law and making mockery of its loopholes. While the electoral Act of 2010 grants INEC the powers to regulate Political Campaigns, it did not permit it to regulate rallies organised by individuals or non political group. For Instance, TAN is making us believe that they are non Political Group as the group(TAN) is not a PDP affiliate, but in reality it is the voice of Jacob with the hands of Esau. The Law need to be amended to take care of this loopholes.

anonimi:

What do you make of the "Consultation train" of APC so many months ago to Nigeria "major stakeholders" including OBJokes





That wan nor be soft-sell campaign to gain power at the centre, abi?

Currently APC = PDP= APC
No difference between six and half a dozen.

barcanista: Since when did consultation (which is a private visit) equates political campaign-a public event that has to do with soliciting for support of a particular candidate?

berem: does the same law allows the deregistration of political parties too?

anonimi:

Please see highlighted.
Tnx

barcanista: Since when did consultation (which is a private visit) equates political campaign-a public event that has to do with soliciting for support of a particular candidate?

berem: does the same law allows the deregistration of political parties too?

Ngwakwe:

According to subsisting court judgement delivered on July 2013, by Federal High Court in Abuja. It held that the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has no powers to de register any political party in the country without recourse to the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The judgement has been appeal by INEC primarily because it nullified Section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act as unconstitutional, invalid, null and void, saying it is offensive to the provisions of Section 40 and Sections 221-229 of the constitution.

We are now waiting for Supreme Court who has the final say on Constitutional matters, until then the INEC says it wouldn't obey the Federal High Court ruling though it never file any stay of execution.

Somehow for our democracy, maybe INEC learnt it from Obama's Administration

jmoore: I want to register my own party. I don't trust APC and PDP.

Independent candidates should be allowed to curtail the rate of party registration.

barcanista: I don't think INEC have a case here. Section 40 of the Constitution clearly grant Nigerians Right to peaceful assembly and association.. I don't know what our Parliamentarians were thinking when they passed Section 78(7) (ii) of the 2010 Electoral Act which is clearly contravenes African Charter of inalienable right to association and the 1999 Constitution. Such things like this happens because we have unqualified people as parliamentarians.

Ngwakwe:

You don't understand the dilemma

This issue has taken another tune of power tussle, thanks to our elementary Democracy.

It is now Act of National Assembly consented by the President (Law) verse Judicial pronouncement.

The electoral law actually gave this power to INEC "probably" against our constitution (Military Decree) and from what I understand, the Supreme Court may keep the ruling on this matter in the Refrigerator till another people based constitution is approved.

barcanista: Your argument sir has already been taken care of by the constitution. Section 1. Clearly States that (1) This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Part 3 futher states that

(3) If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void.

Hence, Section 78(7) (ii) of the 2010 Electoral Act has been rendered null and void for the fact that it contravenes Section 40 of the Constitution, which is against Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution(as amended)
It is not a choice of the SC or "Military and no Military" Constitution. The same constitution that grants legitimacy to the government, the court and Inec cannot be trampled. Doing this means a call to ANARCHY!!!

Ngwakwe:

The National Assembly has expert advisers on Constitution and judicial matters. It is a known fact that they studied the Act and advised the NASS to go ahead which they did.
They are also of the opinion that Federal High Court bench misinterpreted the ACT hence the disdain.

The matter is not as easy as you see it. Conglomerate of Judicial/Constitutional Experts backed by the NASS and the presidency verses few Judges in High Court