“INEC denying our party certificate of registration since 2014” – SPN
By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has demanded its registration as a political party without further delay by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
SPN in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan signed by its National Chairperson, Comrade Segun Sango and National Secretary Comrade Chinedu Bosah, said INEC has been denying the party its “certificate of registration since 2014 when it officially applied to INEC for registration having fulfilled all the provisions and conditions prescribed in the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act.
“The SPN officially submitted its application for registration as a political party to INEC on June 12, 2014. This was after it had satisfied all the legal requirements and conditions earlier furnished by INEC. The requirements which were fulfilled by SPN as prescribed in the 1999 constitution and 2010 Electoral act as amended include setting up a National Headquarter in Abuja and electing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from at least 24 states and Abuja,” it said.
The party added that “we equally strive to pay the N1 million registration fee as demanded by INEC which is undemocratic and an act aimed at stopping genuine groups that do not have money-bags as members from existing as a political party”.
SPN stressed further that “according to the Section 78 of 2010 Electoral Act as amended, INEC is mandated to communicate its decision to a political organisation seeking party registration within 30 days of the receipt of the application” and that “the same section of the constitution also emphasized that failure to do this within the stipulated period, the party is deemed registered and must be issued a certificate of registration immediately by INEC”.
It maintained that “unfortunately, in the case of SPN, this section of the 2010 Electoral Act has been grossly disrespected by the INEC” as “no decision was communicated to the SPN within the 30 days of the receipt of its application”, saying, “instead, INEC, after two months of sleeping over its constitutional responsibility, communicated to SPN through a letter dated August 12, 2014 that its registration had been terminated based on a claim that the party did not present its NEC members for verification”.
“This is a flimsy excuse. Aside the fact that verification of NEC membership is not part of the requirements stipulated in both the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act, relevant data of all NEC members were adequately furnished in FORM PA1 submitted in the application for registration.
“The political reason INEC is deliberately refusing to register SPN despite meeting all legal conditions is simply because the party through its manifesto and constitution represents the political and economic interest of the vast majority which is a break from what is obtainable in all the established political party that defends the interest of a tiny few privileged persons through private accumulation of our collective wealth,”.
It stressed further that “the ruling elite fears that a registered SPN could become a pole of attraction to all those that are fed up with the status quo and want a real change” we hereby demand the registration of SPN as a political party without further delay. We are appealing to the working masses to support the campaign for the registration of SPN” it pleaded.
