The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last night de-registered 28 political parties.
There were 56 political parties after the agency withdrew the registration of seven of the 63 political parties before the 2011 general elections.
No reason was given for the INEC’s action.
A statement by INEC Secretary Abdullahi A. Kaugama, reads: “In the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission has today, Thursday, December 6, 2012, de-registered the following political parties:”
“African Liberation Party (ALP), Action Party of Nigeria (APN), African Political System (APS), Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Community Party of Nigeria (CPN).
“Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), Freedom Party of Nigeria (FPN), Fresh Democratic Party (FDP), Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Justice Party (JP), Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria (LDPN), Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ).”
“Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Nigeria Advanced Party (NAP), New Democrats (ND), National Majority Democratic Party (NMDP), National Movement of Progressive Party (NMPP).”
“National Reformation Party (NRP), National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP), Progressive Action Congress (PAC), Peoples Mandate Party (PMP), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).”
“People’s Salvation Party (PSP), Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN), United National Party for Development (UNPD)
United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP).”
“The Commission hereby reiterates its commitment to relating with political parties in accordance with extant laws and for the benefit of our electoral democracy.”
Some of the founder of the parties are Alhaji Balarabe Musa (PPP), Pastor Chris Okotie (FDP), Ex-Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani (CDC), Alhaji M.D. Yusuf (MDJ), Dr. Tunji Braithwaite (NAP), Chief Olu Falae (DPA).