Tuesday 28 November 2017

VICTORY AT LAST: COURT ORDERS INEC TO REGISTER SPN


PRESS STATEMENT
                                                             
A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole in a judgment delivered today has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) within 30days.

We of the SPN welcome the judgment, which has reaffirmed our democratic right to a freedom of association as a political party that will participate in electoral processes with a socialist programme. We call on the INEC to immediately obey the judgment and issue us the certificate of registration.  

The SPN has been in court since September 10, 2014 challenging the INEC over its undemocratic decision not to register the party despite having fulfilled all constitutional and legal requirements including the payment of INEC-imposed One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) administrative fee.

While we welcome the judgement, we hold that it is a sad commentary on the judicial system that a seemingly straight forward case lasted over three years. This is due to the systemic problem in the nation judiciary apart from the orchestrated delay tactics by the INEC. We call for adequate funding and democratic management of the judiciary.

The SPN extends its gratitude to Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika and the Citipoint Chambers for rendering the legal service at no cost to the party. We equally congratulate all party members, sympathizers and collaborators for their support and steadfastness thus far. This victory is for the long suffering working masses who have been yearning for a viable and genuine political alternative to all the anti-poor political parties. We call on workers, youths, artisans, traders, farmers and the poor masses in general to join the party so as to jointly struggle to wrest political power from the thieving capitalist ruling elite.

                                                                                                                                         
Chinedu Bosah
National Secretary