The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated the Youth Party (YP), three years after it was deregistered to participate in any elections in Nigeria.
Festus Okoye, a spokesperson for the electoral commission in a statement on Thursday said the decision was in compliance with a Supreme Court order.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today, Thursday, 20th July 2023 and among other issues deliberated on the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the deregistration of the Youth Party (YP) as a political party.
INEC deregistered YP alongside 74 other political parties on February 6, 2020, bringing the total number of political parties in Nigeria to 18.
Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, explained that the Commission took the decision as a result of the political parties’ poor performance in the 2019 general election.
The Commission said the parties were delisted in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Many of the political parties have since filed several lawsuits to seek redress in courts to challenge the INEC powers to deregister political parties.
But, citing a Supreme Court decision that reversed a Federal High Court decision to deregister the party, INEC declared in its statement that it had approved the YP party as the 19th Political Party in Nigeria.
The Electoral Commission also stated that it would comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement by ensuring that the political party enjoys the same rights and benefits accorded to other political parties.
“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.