· Vow to Resist Ruling Class Effort to Limit Electoral Choices to Money Bag Parties
The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has applauded the judgement delivered today, Monday, 10th August, 2020 by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja reversing the deregistration of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) and 73 other political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The SPN, in a press statement on Monday, signed by Abiodun Bamigboye, Acting National Chairperson and Chinedu Bosah, National Secretary, also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and pro-masses organisations “to join forces with the SPN to offer a solid working class political alternative for workers, youth and poor people who have been allowed to be deceived for far too long by the pro-rich parties of the APC and PDP.”
It said the unfolding pre-election crises in Edo and Ondo states indicate once again that there can be no hope for Nigeria so far as “the anti-poor capitalist politicians of the APC and PDP are dominating the electoral scene.”
While commending party faithful who stood firm with it in its struggle to secure its right to field candidates in elections as a pro-masses political party, the SPN however noted that the struggle for a democratic and egalitarian society is not yet over.
“Given the intensifying crisis of capitalism and the continued loss of legitimacy of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the eyes of long-suffering workers and youth, the capitalist ruling elite will stop at nothing to ensure that a political party that professes Socialism is off the ballot.
“This is because of their mortal fear that such a party could easily gain the support of the mass of the people given the level of anger that exists in Nigeria as a result of the obvious failure of governments at all levels. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise, if INEC, which is acting the script of the bourgeois ruling elite embarks on a journey to Supreme Court with a view to reverse this judgement. We therefore, enjoin members and supporters to continue to hold the forte and not relent,” SPN stated.
The Federal High Court had in a judgement delivered by Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo upheld INEC’s actions arguing that the deregistration was in accordance with the powers vested on INEC.
However, the Court of Appeal in a judgment written and signed by the President of the Court of Appeal and concurred with by four other appeal court justices, held that the de-registration was illegal, having failed to follow due process.
The court also held that INEC’s action failed to comply with Section 225(a) of the 1999 constitution as amended, as it did not indicate the reasons for its deregistration of the 74 political parties beyond the assertion that the de-registered parties failed to win at least 25% of votes cast in one state of the federation, during the presidential election.
The Appeal Court held that citizens are entitled to freedom of association guaranteed under Section 40 of the constitution, and as such, the right conferred on a party cannot be taken away except by due process.
While stressing that the parties are challenging the process of their deregistration and not the act, the court therefore ordered that the appellants should be re-listed as registered political parties in the country.
