The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared that it would not succumb public pressure or blackmail to dissuade it from complying with constitutional and regulatory requirements for registration of new political parties.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi made the remarks in reaction to a coalition of political groups seeking to register that have criticized it.
The commission told the groups seeking to for registration that registration was not merely a political declaration but a constitutional process governed by strict guidelines.
It also refuted reports that it has registered two new political parties – the “Independent Democrats” and the “Peoples Democratic Movement.”
The commission was recently accused of refusing to register new political parties, raising concerns about the inclusiveness of the electoral process.
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, was blocking the registration of new political parties.
Amaechi on Arise TV earlier in June, praised former INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, for ensuring a transparent electoral process that led to the All Progressives Congress registration and eventual victory in 2015.
He said, “The current chairman of INEC, if he were the chairman of INEC in 2015, we would not have won.
“That’s an important point. May God bless (Attahiru) Jega. Because the ground rules were clear. The current chairman of INEC can only be compared to Iwu.
“When we were to register APC, Jega opened the door and we complied with the registration requirements. He got APC registered. The current man, if you comply with all these, he would not register you.”
