By Samuel Ogidan
Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may postpone the May 28 and April 11 polls, following the Federal High Court judgement on Wednesday in Abuja mandating the commission to include the Young Democratic Party (YDP) in the general elections.
Rising from its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting yesterday, the party told INEC to either accommodate the party or reschedule the forthcoming elections.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had, on Wednesday, ordered INEC to issue a certificate and include the YDP in the elections.
Addressing journalists yesterday shortly after its emergency NEC meeting, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Ugo Nwofor, described the judgement as “victory for democracy, rule of law and triumph over impunity.”
In its resolution, the YDP said INEC had two options: “to reprint its ballot papers and include our dear party so as to accommodate our candidates, or if it does not have the appropriation of logistics for reprinting of its ballot papers then INEC ought t,o within the constitutional provision, further re-schedule the general elections so as to accommodate our party.
“In either of the two options, our party is ready. It has been a long journey for YDP; we wish above all things that INEC would explore the first option.”
Nwofor told journalists: “Court did not order INEC to register YDP. Court ordered INEC to issue certificate and include YDP in the 2015 general elections.”
Describing the court judgment as a victory for democracy, rule of law and triumph over impunity, Nwofor said: “In compliance with Sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act, YDP wishes to announce the commencement of their primaries.
“The NEC approves the sales of nomination forms for House of Assembly (200,000), House of Representatives (500,000), Senate (1,000,000) governorship (3,000,000) and presidential (15,000,000).
“As a gender friendly party, the nomination forms for women in all categories is free except for a processing fee of N100, 000.”
He, however, said in view of the urgency, the party has slated governorship/House of Assembly primaries for March 26, 2015 and presidential/Senate/House of Representatives primaries for March 27, 2015.
“In accordance with INEC’s timetable, we wish to restate that we are ready for the 2015 general elections,” he said.