A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday for fourth time affirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted within its powers when it deregistered 74 political parties.
This particular ruling yet again dashed the hope of 74 political parties seeking the reversal of their deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In separate judgements delivered on Wednesday, Hon Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha dismissed the cases filed by Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and that of Reform and Advancement Party (RAP) challenging their de-registration by INEC.
The court was emphatic that the two parties were in breach of Section 225A of the constitution; therefore affirmed that INEC was not only right but has powers derived from the constitution to de-register them.
The parties are among 74 non-performing parties de-registered by INEC on February 6 2020.
It would be recalled that recently, the courts delivered a string of judgements against some of the de-registered parties challenging the action of the commission.
But twice on June 5, 2020 and June May 28, 2020, the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo and another Federal High Court on June 11, 2020 presided over by Justice Anwuli Chikere upheld the powers of INEC to de-register political parties.
The two parties, DPP and RAP, were not part of the earlier suits by some of the de-registered parties.
