BREAKING: Supreme Court affirms INEC’s deregistration of 74 political parties

By Ovasa Ogaga,—

The Supreme Court in a judgment delivered by Justice China Nweze, on Friday reaffirmed a ruling by the Court of Appeal in support of the deregistration of the National Unity Party (NUP) and 73 others.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2020 deregistered 74 political parties over their inability to win any election during the 2019 general elections.

Dissatisfied, NUP and the other 73 political parties approached the court for an interpretation of the relevant electoral law, the parties hope of setting outside the decision of INEC was however dashed when the Court of Appeal upheld INEC’s decision.

Not satisfied with the ruling of the Court of Appeal, National Unity Party (NUP), and others went to Supreme Court to appeal the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

However, the Supreme Court, on Friday, said the deregistration of NUP, one of the 74 parties, was in line with the laws and compliance with the extant provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act.

Details shortly…