INEC Pressured to Deregister ADC and Labour Party

Raphael Igbokwe, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nation Forum and a former legislator, has stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under pressure to deregister several political parties, specifically the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party (LP). This statement comes as a federal high court in Abuja has scheduled a ruling for March 24 regarding a joinder application in a suit that seeks to compel the ADC and other parties to comply with constitutional requirements.

Igbokwe emphasized the importance of adhering to the constitution and expressed concern that INEC appears to selectively enforce the law, referencing that 74 political parties were registered in 2021. He urged that the court's decision could enrich electoral jurisprudence in Nigeria, highlighting the necessity for all political entities to operate within the constitutional framework of the country.