The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has said attempt by the House of Representatives to probe the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) over it’s failure to deregister political parties is undemocratic and runs foul of any known constitutional democracy.
In a statement on Wednesday by IPAC’s National Publicity Secretary, Demola Babatunde, such a move by the House of Reps Committee on Electoral Matters should be immediately stopped, especially as the matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria.
According to Babatunde, to “Any attempt to discuss such matters robs the court of its guaranteed power as encapsulated under section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
IPAC therefore advised the House Committee on Electoral Matters to be more concerned about matters that have direct bearing on the delivery of free, fair and credible electoral processes for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The statement read: “The attention of the Council has been drawn to the move by the Federal House of Representative to investigate INEC over failure to deregister Political Parties.
“The Council under the leadership of High Chief Peter O. Ameh has directed that a robust response be issued to educate the members who made the statement:
“That the purported decision is undemocratic and runs foul of any known constitutional democracy and therefore, such a move should be immediately stopped, particularly when the matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria.
“It is an elementary principle of Nigerian legislative process that once matters are before a competent court of record, no authority or persons legislate upon them, unless and until it is determined on the merit.
“Any attempt to discuss such matters robs the court of its guaranteed power as encapsulated under section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Supreme Court has reiterated in numerous cases, that where authorities or group of persons undermined the level speed with which the court of law travels, it amounts to self-help and contravention of advanced democracy and the spirit of law.
“It is expected of each unit of the National Assembly to see Nigeria as being in a state that needs drastic attention in all aspects, hence for a serious and result driven National Assembly, Political parties de-registration is never a solution to the enormous challenges facing our electoral processes today.
“The amendments to the Electoral Act should, at this time, be the major point of discuss, in order to plan effectively for the years ahead from the lessons derived from the 2019 General Elections.
“It will be better to intelligently look at the constraints and lacuna in our Electoral Act, and effect a credible process that will create avenue for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections that will reflect the true will of Nigerians rather than presenting a motion for an action geared towards the de-registration of Political Parties.
“The National Assembly should as a matter of loyalty to our laws and the Nigerians whom it represents, be passionately concerned about the very obvious systemic errors in our institutions, challenges combating our security system and structures that makes life unbearable for the average Nigerian.
“The focus of the National Assembly should be to modify or make laws with a view to lifting Nigeria and Nigerians up to where the country and her people ought to be in the comity of nations.
“The 2019 General Elections was undoubtedly riddled with flaws and this is what ought to be of major concern to the Green Chambers.
“Of all the issues affecting the credibility of our electoral processes that has drawn concerns all over the world, such as the violence against and the killings of innocent Nigerians during Elections, snatching of ballot papers, ballot boxes, abuse of INEC staff, vote buying and vote selling to mention a few, the number of Political Parties is not the problem but the above mentioned issues.
“It is expedient, for the House Committee on Electoral Matters to be more concerned about matters that have direct bearing on the delivery of free, fair and credible electoral processes for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“In respect to the rule of law and separation of powers, the House of Representatives should patiently await the just determination of the suit initiated by Political Parties, without any further discussion on the issue,” IPAC said.
