Jungle-Journalist.Com reports that the Forum of Associations Seeking Registration as Political Parties (FASRAPP) has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for disqualifying 157 out of 171 political associations that applied for registration.
In a statement on Friday, the group described the exclusion as “alarming and unacceptable,” accusing INEC of breaching its own guidelines. The Commission, in a release signed by National Commissioner Sam Olumekun, had announced that only 14 associations prequalified to proceed to the next stage.
The Forum argued that INEC sat on most applications for over a year, despite rules mandating a decision within 90 days. It further alleged irregularities, claiming that some of the approved groups had discrepancies, including multiple applications by the same promoters and names not previously on INEC’s published lists.
According to the Forum, the only valid grounds for disqualification should be:
- Similarity to existing political parties,
- Use of ethnic or religious connotations, or
- Adoption of prohibited symbols.
Anything outside these, it warned, would amount to deliberate frustration of citizens’ right to political participation.
The associations vowed to meet once INEC conveys official reasons for the mass rejection and to decide on their next steps, hinting at a possible legal or political showdown with the electoral body.
The statement was signed by Chief Barr. John Nwobodo, Protem National Chairman of I Love Nigeria, and Dr. Godwin I. Udibe, Protem National Chairman of Patriots Party.