Chuks Okocha
18 December 2002
Abuja — Guobadia says it's celebration of rule of law
The political space was further enlarged yesterday with the registration of two new political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), bringing the number of registered parties in the country to 30.
INEC chairman, Dr. Abel Guobadia, who gave the names of the two additional registered political parties as United Democratic Party (UDP) and African Renaissance Party (ARP), said registration of political parties is a continuous process.
Guobadia also issued certificates of registration to the 24 political parties which were registered last month, describing them as products of the rule of law reiging in the country.
The INEC Chairman commended the newly registered political parties for what he described as their principled stand and doggedness.
"This occasion is a celebration of the rule of law because it has been made possible by a recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which annulled some of the guidelines for the registration of political parties," the INEC boss said.
Guobadia paid tribute to the new parties for their perseverance, saying the nation would be better for it. "For almost 30 years, the issue of what many saw as stringent and undemocratic requirements has been a source of intense heat in the political environment," he said, noting "It is a welcome ending that this has now been put behind us."
He expressed hope that the registration of the new political parties will meet the "expectation of all Nigerians" and that their "existence will lead to a healthier and fairer political competition than has been the case."
He explained that the new parties were registered at a time he described as the "most critical when general elections are soon to be held," but gave assurance of the commission's impartiality, fairness and neutrality.
Guobadia, however, added that for the commission's genuine desire to be realised, "our impartiality and neutrality as well as our efforts must be complimented by individuals and political parties, who believe and practice the rule of law and who do not engage in or incite violence or deliberately do the wrong thing."
He charged the political parties and their supporters to be law abiding and play according to the rule of law saying, "it is a sad commentary when it is feared that violence and the activities of the political class in buying votes or merely rigging elections may mar the polls in 2003."
Extending invitation to the new parties for a meeting of the commission and registered political parties slated for Thursday, the INEC boss said the meeting would develop a code of conduct to be abided to by all parties.
He said that the code will outline guidelines on how political parties and their members must conduct themselves during elections and campaigns. The code, he said, would also set guidelines on how the ruling parties both at the centre or states should conduct its affairs to avoid having an undue advantage.
In its reaction soon after collecting its certificate of registration, the Justice Party led by Chief Ralph Obioha commended INEC for opening up the political space, saying that the registration of new parties will afford Nigerians a wider choice. He called on Nigerians to reject the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the general elections in 2003.
Obioha tasked the new parties with similar ideologies to forge a coalition for the general good of Nigerians.
Also, the national chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Chief Gani Fawehinmi demanded for a fresh registration of voters' exercise as, according to him the earlier one was without the participation of the newly registered parties.
Fawehinmi reiterated his call for the dissolution of INEC saying, "the 'war' over registration of political parties has stripped the commission of its status as an unbiased umpire as envisioned in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"Consequently, the confidence of the electorate in the ability of the commission to conduct a free and fair election can only be restored by the complete re-composition of INEC with men and women who understand what it means to be independent and are ready to defend it."
Meanwhile, People's Mandate Party yesterday re-stated its commitment to the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference. It also canvassed for free education, National Health Insurance for all, adequate food and shelter, a strong independent judiciary and religious tolerance.
A statement by the PMP entitled "Enough is Enough" and circulated yesterday in Abuja expressed lack of confidence in INEC and called for its reconstitution.
Similarly, the Green Party of Nigeria led by Olisa Agbakoba said the greatest challenge facing the country in the conduct of a free, fair and credible election in 2003 is the non- independence of INEC.
"What has emerged from the struggle for a liberalized political system in Nigeria, is that we have an electoral body that is tied to an apron string of government," Agbakoba said querying "how can we trust such an umpire who has consistently shown bias; who has consistently shown disregard to the country's constitution?"
But reacting to the call by NCP for another voters' registration exercise, INEC National Commissioner for Information, Mr. Okpo Sam Okpo, said the registration of voters exercise was for all qualified Nigerians and not conducted on political parties' basis.
Okpo dismissed the call by Fawehinmi for a fresh exercise saying "it was Nigerians that were registered and not foreigners; it was not done on political parties affairs."
He also dismissed the call by some of the new political parties for an extension of time for the conduct of elections to enable them mobilize their members.
The INEC Commissioner said that the time for elections is a constitutional issue advising, "any person that is calling for extension of time must first amend the constitution because the constitution says that the elections must take place between March 31 and April 30."
The new political parties that received certificates of registration yesterday include All Peoples Liberation Party (APLP), Better Nigeria 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) and Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ).
Others are National Action Council (NAC), National Conscience Party (NCP), National Mass Movement of Nigeria (NMMN), National Reformation Party (NRP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), New Democrats (ND), Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) and Nigerian Peoples Congress (NPC).
Also presented with certificates are Party for Social Democracy (PSD), Peoples Mandate Party (PMP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Salvation Party (PSP), Progressive Action Congress (PAC), The Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), United Democratic Party (UDP) and African Renaissance Party (ARP).
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