NEWS-INEC rejects APC

A new twist has occurred in the name crisis being faced in the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the application of the African People’s Congress (APC) for registration.

The leadership of the African People’s Congress has, however, vowed to resist its non-registration on the grounds that it fulfilled all requirements for registration as a political party.

In a letter signed by its secretary, Abdullahi A. Kaugama, dated March 21, 2013, a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, INEC said “the commission has observed that your association is in breach of Section 222(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which stipulates as follows:

“No association by whatever name called shall function as a political party unless: (a) The names and addresses of its national officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“A close observation of your submitted form PA1 established that it does not contain the addresses of your national officers, stipulated in the provision above.

“Consequently, the commission shall not register the proposed African People’s Congress (APC) as a political party.”

The leadership of the APC, however, decried the attitude of the electoral body and alleged that there was a plot to deny its registration, even after it had fulfilled all the requirements.

The legal adviser of the proposed party, Mr Kingsley Nnadi, noted that the provision of the constitution and the Electoral Act was clear and that no other rules outside the law should be applied on the party registration exercise.