ANRP Responds to Supreme Court Judgement on Deregistration of Political Parties

ABUJA, 7 May 2021 –– The Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) has been made aware of the Supreme Court judgement delivered today affirming the deregistration of a political party in Nigeria, whereby new reports claim that this judgement seals the fate of all political parties seeking redress in court over their deregistration.

Whereas the ANRP is yet to read the judgement, it is important to note that the basis on which the that party in question approached the courts is patently different from the grounds on which ANRP is before the Court of Appeal challenging her wicked and unjust deregistration. Today’s judgement therefore cannot be applicable to ANRP.

Second, it would be recalled that 22 other political parties got favourable judgement at the Appeal Court (for which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement at Supreme Court and the matter is ongoing). As of today these 22 political party by virtue of the Court of Appeal judge are validly registered political parties unless declared otherwise by the Supreme Court when the case is concluded.

For emphasis, the grounds of ANRP’s matter at the Court of Appeal centre more the right to fair hearing denied the Party (which is a fundamental rights violation) and other egregious errors in the judgement of the trial court, and NOT about INEC’s powers to deregister political parties as with the case the Supreme Court concluded today.

The Party therefore expresses optimism that its case at the Court of Appeal would be expeditiously heard and judgement entered in her favour, with her licence as a political party restored in no distant time.

Sesugh Akume
National Spokesman