PDP, DPP commend INEC over de-registration of 28 parties

Abuja – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) on Friday in Abuja commended INEC for the de-registration of 28 political parties.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, the spokespersons of the parties asserted that the exercise was a step in the right direction.

The National Chairman of DPP, retired Gen. Bashir Magashi, advised the chieftains of the affected political parties to come together and form a strong opposition.

“There are so many strong politicians that are affected in the exercise, they should challenge the situation and come together, consolidate on their experience to form a formidable opposition.

“This will make political terrain in Nigeria to be more competitive,” Magashi said.

He said that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was so clear, and that even though the constitution allowed for a multi-party system, INEC still had the power to de-register parties.

He said it had become so obvious with the amendment of Electoral Act in 2010 that INEC would de-register parties that did not meet its guidelines.

“Electoral Act 2010 as amended, states that “any political party which contests elections and does not win any electoral seat shall be de-registered”, this must be the law, which INEC applied to the affected parties.

Magashi urged Nigerians to embrace the exercise as sound moral values to ensure the sustenance of democracy and be more committed to the tenets of democracy.

In a separate interview, National Auditor of the PDP, Mr Bode Mustapha, said that the exercise would sanitise the polity and create a better footing for democracy in Nigeria.

He said that the proliferation of political parties in Nigeria was not too healthy for democracy.

Mustapha said the de-registration exercise should serve as a pointer that the success of any thriving democracy was not in the number of existing political parties, but the coordination and ability to do it right.

He said this exercise would give the political dispensation the ethical and noble instruments needed to give the next generation a proper foundation. (NAN)