THE Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP) has stated that the continuous disobedience to and disregard for the unanimous Judgement of the Court of Appeal which reinstated some political parties which were deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a danger to the current democratic process.
A statement signed by CUPP’s National Secretary, High Chief Peter Ameh, said it is of serious concern that INEC continued to, in publications, insist on the unlawful exclusion of those political parties that were reinstated by the Court of Appeal in a unanimous Judgement delivered by its President, Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, on August 10, 2020.
“This statement credited to Mr. Festus Okoye who spoke on behalf of the Commission is not only reckless but grossly irresponsible considering the fact that there is a subsisting judgement of the Court of Appeal which has neither been set aside nor stayed by an Order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.
“By such unlawful pronouncement to the general public allowing only 18 political parties to participate in the scheduled 2023 general elections, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu led-INEC has once again affirmed its disdain and disregard for the Rule of Law in Nigeria and clearly shown his contempt of the subsisting Judgement of the Court of Appeal,” Chief Ameh said in the statement.
He added that INEC ought to have appreciated the fact that the unanimous decision of the Appeal Court still subsists as an appeal does not translate to a stay.
“The Commission ought to have realised that the unanimous Judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered by its President on the 10th of August, 2020, being a declaratory judgement, still subsists and appeal in law does not operate as a stay.
“In view of the foregoing, I call on the Commission to relist the Parties as Ordered by the Court of Appeal and take every step necessary to ensure that they are accorded every right deserving of them as regards the 2023 general elections,” Chief Ameh stated.
