The says it will continue to register any association that meet legal requirements for registration as political party ahead of 2019 general elections.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu,has confirmed that no fewer than 130 new associations have applied to be registered as political parties ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Professor Yakubu, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) today, Sunday in Lagos, said that while the electoral body would continue to register associations that met the conditions for registration, such new parties would not be allowed to participate in the elections if they are so registered six months to the general elections.
“Once associations meet the legal requirements as political parties, the commission is under obligation to register them, but the law also provides for a period of six months to general elections.
“It states that any association registered as a political party six months to the election cannot participate in the general elections.
“We have 68 political parties at the moment. As at last week, we had received applications from 130 associations for registration as political parties.
“So, we will continue to register political parties based on the position of the law.’’
According to him, as part of its duties, the commission would do what the law required of it, saying “if we don’t, they will go to the court and the court will order the commission to register them as political parties.
“But, we will not allow the commission to be dragged to court over a matter which we have responsibility under the law. So, we will continue to do the needful.”
