Yacoob Habib, Ise-Oluwa Ige
4 December 2002
Abuja — Twenty-eight political parties are to contest next year's elections in the country following the registration, yesterday, of 22 new parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Prominent among the new parties are the National Conscience Party (NCP) led by Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi; Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ) headed by one time Police Inspector General, Alhaji M. D. Yusufu; the People's Redemption Party (PRP) led by Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the Green Party led by human rights activist, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).
Chief Fawehinmi and Mr. Agbakoba in their first reactions yesterday hailed the registration as a victory for democracy and Nigerians.
Also registered are:
*All People's Liberation Party (APLP)
*Better Nigerian Progressive Party (BNPP)
*Community Party of Nigeria (CPN)
*Democratic Alternative (DA)
*Justice Party (JP)
*Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria (LDPN)
*Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN)
*National Action Council (NAC)
*National Mass Movement of Nigeria (NMMN)
*National Reformation Party (NRP)
*New Nigerian People's Party (NNPP)
*New Democrats (ND)
*Nigeria Advance Party (NAP)
*Nigeria People's Conscience (NPC)
*Party for Social Democracy (PSD)
*People's Mandate Party (MP)
*People's Salvation Party (PSP)
*Progressive Action of Nigeria (PAC)
INEC chairman, Dr. Abel Guobadia who announced the names of the new parties at a press conference in Abuja, said their registration was on merit. "We have since undertaken a very rigorous scrutiny of the constitution of the associations, and we are satisfied that many of the associations have complied with the requirements of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), including the requirement of a headquarters office at Abuja.
He, however, regretted that some others could not meet the requirement of the commission and were therefore screened out; pointing out that at the appropriate time, the reasons for their non-registration would be communicated to them. Guobadia, stated that, for the successful political parties, certificates of registration would be presented to them by the commission on Tuesday, 17th December, 2002.
The INEC boss, while congratulating the new parties, charged them to embrace the political consultative forum - which meets on key political issues for the benefit of the parties and the success of democracy.
He allayed fears that the enlargement of the political space, with new parties, might alter the timetable for elections, stressing that the table remains the same. He added that their entry however, might require more funds for the perfection of logistics and other materials.
About 25 new political associations submitted applications to the commission after it churned out fresh guidelines and called for fresh applications.
Speaking to Vanguard after the registration of the NCP, its leader, Chief Fawehinmi said it was "a victory for participating democracy" and expressed delight that INEC" has bowed to the judgement of the supreme court." Nigerians, he said, "must learn a lesson from this struggle: They must fight for their rights, with all their zeal, with all commitment."
He said the emergence of the new parties "has widened the political landscape and will enable Nigerians to make choices of leaders they want rather than be pigeon-holed to pick from the same set of politicians."
He also insisted that the INEC chairman, Dr. Guobadia "must go" alleging that he (Guobadia) "does not have the capability to conduct a free and fair elections.
The Democratic Alternative (DA) reacting through Kehinde Idremoda described the registration as a welcome development. "It is the first phase of the struggle, "he said, adding "we are moving to the 2nd phase which is capturing power in 2007.
On his part, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) of the Green party described the registration of the 22 new political parties as a victory over the deceit of INEC.
"Today {yesterday} is the foundation of new political era in the country.
"This is because, for the first time in the history of this country, Nigerians have now been given the opportunity to make choices as to who will represent them and the political parties they would want to contest elections
"This is what we have been advocating long ago. It has been a tasking, long, tortuous journey. We have been talking, yelling, shouting to get our views across. And this is the result which we have started benefitting from. I think it is a commendable development," he added.
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