Speculations about the possible deregistration of the Accord Party by the Independent National Electoral Commission have been dismissed by the party, which says it fully meets all constitutional requirements to remain a registered political party in Nigeria.
The party, in a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, dismissed calls for its deregistration as baseless and the product of “ignorance or political mischief.”
Omorogbe, who cited Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), said that a political party may only be deregistered on certain grounds, including not winning at least one seat in a councillorship, state or national assembly elections, or scoring a minimum threshold of votes in presidential or governorship elections.
“It is clear that our great party, Accord, complied with this obvious provision of the constitution, thereby exempted and excluded from de-registration by the electoral umpire,” he said.
So This Happened (EP 392) reviews: Sisi Alagbo apologises over video 0:00 / 0:00
“The insinuation and rumours peddled by political opponents that Accord would be de-registered due to a matter in court, which the Attorney General and Minister of Justice recently supported, has no effect whatsoever on our party.
“As Nigerians seek to be in one accord, His Excellency Senator Ademola Adeleke of Osun State joined the party alongside a Senator, six House of Representatives members, 24 State House of Assembly members and many more citizens who share the Accord progressive ideology of oneness and progress in the quest for sustainable development and democracy.”
“Zahairu Usman won the Ajaura Ward councillorship in Taura Local Government Area, while Isa Alhaji won in Kanwa Ward, Jahun Local Government Area,” he said. The Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission later presented certificates of return to both candidates.
The party also reminded that it won Ideato South State House of Assembly in Imo State in the April 15, 2023 election. However, an election tribunal later nullified the victory.
The party also slammed a group of “self-styled former lawmakers” who were reported to have filed a suit seeking the deregistration of some political parties, including Accord, describing it as legally untenable.
It also slammed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for allegedly backing the suit, accusing him of partisanship and not verifying the party’s electoral records before taking a position.
“However, Accord is constrained to put the record straight following the reaction of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice who is a defendant in the suit but turned around to side with the plaintiffs (former lawmakers) to demand for de-registration of the parties listed in the suit in the worst assault on the nation’s democracy and mockery of the esteemed office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,” Omorogbe stated.
Accord said INEC recently conducted its annual verification exercise at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, an indication that the commission recognises its compliance with existing regulations.
The development comes after the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), recently backed a suit filed by some former lawmakers seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the African Democratic Congress and four other political parties.
In the proceedings initiated at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the AGF argued that the continued existence of the affected parties is in conflict with provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and is inimical to electoral integrity.
He argued that without the intervention of the court, INEC will continue to act in breach of its constitutional responsibilities of retaining parties that have allegedly failed to meet the minimum legal requirements.
Other parties listed in the suit are the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party, apart from the African Democratic Congress.
In an affidavit deposed to by a team of lawyers led by Prof. Joshua Olatoke (SAN), the AGF said as the chief law officer of the federation, he is obliged to uphold the Constitution and ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act and other laws regulating political parties in the country.
