The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday declared that it has recognised the Youth Party (YP) as the 19th political party in Nigeria.
This followed the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the deregistration of the Youth Party as a political party.
INEC in 2020 deregistered about 74 political parties that failed to meet established criteria.
The commission then based it’s decision on the argument that the parties failed to meet the criteria provided for by section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which include: “breach of any of the requirements for registration as a party, failure to win at least 25 percent of the votes cast in one state in a presidential election or 25 percent of the votes cast in one local government area, and failure to win at least one ward in a Chairmanship election, one seat in the national or state assembly election or one seat in a councilorship election”.
The Youth Party was affected by INEC’s decision but later went to court to challenge the commission’s action.
National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement on Thursday, recalled that the Youth Party was registered on August 16, 2018 by virtue of the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on October 16, 2017.
Okoye explained: “Following the Commission’s decision to deregister some parties in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Youth Party approached the Federal High Court and secured an Order restraining the Commission from deregistering it.
“On appeal by the Commission, the Court of Appeal set aside the Order of the Federal High Court and on further appeal by the party, the Supreme Court set aside the deregistration of the party.
“Based on the judgement of the Supreme Court, the Commission interfaced with officials of the Youth Party on the modalities for its operation based on the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.
“Consequently, the Commission has recognised the Youth Party (YP) as the 19th Political Party in Nigeria with all the rights and privileges accorded political parties in Nigeria.”
