Group accuses INEC of defying court judgement on party registration

A group, Citizens Democratic Alliance, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to comply with a Federal High Court order regarding party registration. The court had directed INEC to issue a Certificate of Registration within seven days of receiving the Certified True Copy of the judgment. Despite this directive, INEC has yet to take action, leading to accusations of defiance from the group.

The dispute between the Citizens Democratic Alliance and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken a contentious turn, with the former accusing the latter of defying a Federal High Court order. The court's ruling, which directed INEC to issue a Certificate of Registration within seven days, has been met with inaction from the electoral commission. This development raises questions about the effectiveness of judicial oversight and the accountability of electoral bodies in Nigeria.

In Nigeria, political parties are registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the Electoral Act 2020. The registration process involves submitting an application to INEC, which then reviews and approves or rejects the application. A Federal High Court has jurisdiction over disputes arising from this process. In recent times, there have been concerns about the delay in registering new political parties, with some groups accusing INEC of being biased towards certain parties.

The outcome of this matter has not yet been reported, leaving many questions unanswered. Will INEC comply with the court's order and issue the Certificate of Registration? What consequences will follow if INEC continues to defy the court's directive? These are just some of the open questions that remain in this developing saga.

In conclusion, this matter underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law in Nigeria's electoral system. INEC must take immediate action to comply with the court's directive and issue the Certificate of Registration. The Citizens Democratic Alliance has every right to demand that its rights be respected, and it is the duty of INEC to ensure that these rights are protected.