Speculations about the possible deregistration of the Accord Party by the Independent National Electoral Commission have been dismissed by the party, which says it fully meets all constitutional requirements to remain a registered political party in Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, the party described calls for its deregistration as baseless and the product of “ignorance or political mischief.”
Omorogbe said that a political party could only be deregistered on certain grounds, including not winning at least one seat in a councillorship, state or national assembly elections or scoring a minimum threshold of votes in presidential or governorship elections, citing Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He said, “It is clear that our great party, Accord, complied with this obvious provision of the constitution, thereby exempted and excluded from de-registration by the electoral umpire.
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“The insinuations and rumours by political opponents that Accord would be de-registered over a matter in court which the Attorney General and Minister of Justice recently supported have no bearing on our party whatsoever.
“As Nigerians seek to be in one accord, His Excellency Senator Ademola Adeleke of Osun State joined the party alongside a Senator, six House of Representatives members, 24 State House of Assembly members and many more citizens who share the Accord progressive ideology of oneness and progress in the quest for sustainable development and democracy.
“Zahairu Usman clinched the Ajaura Ward councillorship in Taura Local Government Area, and Isa Alhaji clinched victory in Kanwa Ward, Jahun Local Government Area,” according to him. The Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission later issued certificates of return to both candidates.
The party also reminded that it won the Ideato South State House of Assembly seat in Imo State during the April 15, 2023 election. But a later election tribunal cancelled the win.
The party also lambasted a group of “self-styled former lawmakers” who were reported to have filed a suit seeking the deregistration of some political parties, including Accord, describing it as legally untenable.
It also berated the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for allegedly supporting the suit, accusing him of partisanship and not verifying the party’s electoral records before taking a position.
“However, Accord is constrained to put the record straight following the reaction of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice who is a defendant in the suit but turned around to side with the plaintiffs (former lawmakers) to demand for de-registration of the parties listed in the suit in the worst assault on the nation’s democracy and mockery of the esteemed office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,” Omorogbe stated.
Accord said INEC recently carried out its annual verification exercise at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, an indication that the commission recognises its compliance with existing regulations.
This development is coming on the heels of the recent support by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for a suit filed by some former lawmakers to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to de-register the African Democratic Congress and four other political parties.
In the proceedings filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the AGF argued that the continued existence of the affected parties contravenes provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and undermines electoral integrity.
He argued that unless the court intervened, INEC would continue to act in breach of its constitutional responsibilities of retaining parties that have allegedly failed to meet the minimum legal requirements.
Besides the African Democratic Congress, the parties listed in the suit include the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
In an affidavit filed by a team of lawyers led by Prof. Joshua Olatoke (SAN), the AGF maintained that as the chief law officer of the federation, he is bound to uphold the Constitution and ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act and other laws regulating political parties in the country.
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