Constitution violation: INEC could de-register ANPP

by Chi Ibe

Voters-at-the-ANPP-Conventi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is yet to decide on a query issued to the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP over constitution violation an offence which could cost the political party its existence.

Reports on Thursday January 31 confirmed that the commission had, in a letter, accused the party of making a false claim over the amendment of its constitution.

It was learnt that the ANPP on January 22, 2013 had written INEC, informing the commission that it altered its constitution in 2011 but INEC later discovered that the party’s constitution was amended since 2010.

Based on Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution, political parties are supposed to inform the commission of any alteration to their constitution within 30 days.

The commission, would decide on the party’s fate after receiving the it’s response but reports say ANPP had been struggling to respond to the commission’s query.

INEC, however, did not put a time frame within which the query must be answered.

The Punch reports:

A stalwart of the ANPP, who pleaded anonymity, said the party was still battling to respond to INEC’s query, which had thrown it into confusion.

He said, “We are still confused about INEC’s query. As things are now, the commission can deregister us.”

When contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, confirmed that the commission wrote the ANPP over constitution violation.

He said, “It is true. In a letter dated January 28, we wrote to them that they should explain (the word deregistration was not used. I can read from the letter), having violated Section 222B of the 1999 Constitution, the ANPP should show cause why it should not cease to function as a political party.”

Idowu explained that INEC’s letter was a follow-up to a letter written to the commission by the party.

He added, “What happened was that on January 22nd this year, they wrote us that they have amended their constitution and that the constitution was amended at their national convention held in 2011.

“But the commission notes that amendment was actually done in the convention that held on 18 and 19 September 2010, not 2011.

“Meanwhile Section 222B of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended reads that no association (those are not my words. Those are the constitution words) by whatever name called shall function as a party unless any alteration in its registered constitution is registered in the principal office of the Independent National Electoral Commission within 30 days of making such alteration.”

Asked if the party had given any explanation, Idowu said, “I am not aware of any explanation as I speak with you.”

He also explained that the INEC letter did not contain a time frame within which the ANPP must respond to accusation against it.

The Publicity Secretary of the ANPP, Mr. Emmanuel Eneukwu, refused to pick telephone calls to his mobile phone.

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