Court rules on INEC’s de-registration of Youth Party of Nigeria

An Abuja Federal High Court has reversed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-register the Youth Party of Nigeria, YPN.

The court ruled that INEC’s decision was a breach of the political party’s right to fair hearing.

In his judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said the electoral umpire breached YPN’s right by de-registering it despite a pending case the party filed against INEC’s earlier threat.

Justice Ekwo’s ruling was on a suit filed by the Youth Party, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/10/2020, which had INEC as the sole defendant.

The judge ruled that although INEC is empowered under Section 255(a) of the Constitution to de-register political parties, such power must be exercised within the armbit of the law.

“I condemn the action of the defendant in de-registering the plaintiff while its case was pending,” the judge said.

He added that INEC’s decision to de-register the plaintiff during the pendency of the case amounted to an arbitrary exercise of powers.