The United States of America whose concept, style and pattern of democracy we are practising never had incessant deregistration of political parties, how come Nigeria’s case is different? This is the question Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, class and religion, are asking the apex electoral body in the country over its recent deregistration of 74 political parties.
In reality, majority of the deregistered parties who are barely six months old cannot be said not to have been able to win elections.
Take the Alliance National Party (ANP), for instance, it has within its limited time of existence been able to field candidates for both Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections even though that of Kogi later got disqualification due to the deficiencies associated with the running mate to the governorship candidate. As regards Osun governorship elections, all the newly registered parties were barred from fielding candidates by INEC.
No matter what INEC has to say, many Nigerians are angry and suspicious of the move. In a democracy where even purchase of nomination forms is exorbitant, especially in the two leading political parties, the PDP and APC, many politicians find the existence of those smaller parties as alternatives to meet their political aspirations.
From findings, most smaller parties charge N1 million downwards for presidential nomination forms compared to the N25 million APC charges and that of the PDP. Then other smaller offices like that of the governor, senator, House of Representatives and state houses of assembly are also affordable in smaller parties than PDP and APC.
This therefore justifies the existence of these parties. Even though some people refer to them as mushroom parties, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. The fundamental aspect is that INEC erred by deregistering these polities parties by not carrying out consultation, interaction and making public the findings of its team of experts who carried out
verification exercise of all the political parties. There are insinuations that the presidency is in the picture of the axing of the parties simply because there are those backed by heavy weights and high profile opposition leaders who might use them against the ruling party in 2023.
From 1999, smaller parties made waves in states like Anambra where the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) produced governor and also state assembly members. Similarly, the Labour Party produced governor in Ondo state. Were these smaller parties not given chance to put their effort in practice, what would have befallen them? It will be of national interest if INECcould
reverse this insensitive decision by simply obeying an Abuja Federal High Court pronouncement that all the deregistered political parties should return to their offices. There is no point for INEC to appeal the judgment. Every day we cry that our democracy is in a shambles, forgetting that we are the architects of our own problems. The team that makes today’s INEC are men and women of pedigree and integrity.
How can the likes of Festus Okoye, Obe and others who fared in their civil defence of people’s rights and living fold their arms in INEC and allow decisions to be taken against general interest. It is high time the National Assembly called INEC to order. Agreed that the senate has resolved to hold public hearing, what becomes of it? Let’s face fact by calling INEC to order. The party that produced the incumbent deputy senate president before decamping to APC was a small party. This is to say that even some distinguished senators benefitted. Beyond just public hearings, let the National Assembly compel INEC to obey the court order restraining it from deregistration in national interest.
Outside PDP and APC, other 16 parties left that make the total 17 are in no way better than parties like the Alliance National Party. I am not in any way holding brief for them but presenting the records straight. The party has one of the best secretariats, fully structured across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. It has national spread made up of Christians and Muslims. Why deregister such future assuring and promising party? There is the need to urgently restructure the political party monitoring unit of INEC.
INEC chairman apart from being called Mr “Inconclusive” needed to be called Mr Deregistration” also. Professor Mahmud Yakubu is one man I have a lot of respect for, as such he should please write his name in gold and not nemesis. No matter what defence INEC will give, Nigerians like me will not believe them. Constitutionally INEC said the criterion used to deregister most of the parties is simply their inability to win election at any level. This shouldn’t be for parties that existed for only six months. Other aspects of national importance like the high cost of forms and domineering nature in major parties which inform alternative choices by candidates of other smaller parties should have also been taken seriously and given consideration for the interest of democracy.
It is still not late for INEC to rescind its decision. Political parties like the Alliance National
Party which has been making press statements on national cohesion and unity are important in the opposition. The party’s recent call for the restructuring of Nigeria diplomatic circle is another good piece. How then do you expect us to be happy with ANP’s deregistration?
Mahmud writes from Abuja
