2015 Election just around the corner, fresh fears have emerged over the possibility of yet another poll shift after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, March 4, to include the Young Democratic Parties.
By implication, INEC would have to reprint new ballot papers for the elections which is just three weeks away.
Speaking yesterday, March 5, at a press conference the YDP's publicity secretary, Mr. Ugo Nwafor, said INEC "has just two options ".
Option 1: Reprinting the ballot papers to accommodate the party and its candidates but if INEC does not have appropriation for logistics for reprinting the ballot papers.
Option 2: INEC should postpone the elections to accommodate our party.
However, INEC has withheld it's response to the development, saying it does not have the court document ordering it to recognize the YDP yet.
This was stated by both INEC Director of voter
Mr Nwafor of the YDP further added it's party was ready for elections. However one very key issue to be noted from this ongoing continues, heavy uncertainly now looms over the possible conduct of the rescheduled election on March 28 and April, respectively,as INEC is now expected to reproduce ballot papers to bear the YDP and logo.
This leaves us with this very alarming question: Will INEC be able to honour this judgement with the rescheduled elections barely three weeks away?
It will be recalled that Justice Ahmed Mohammed made the order for the inclusion of The Young Democratic Party in his judgement on the suit filed by the party, challenging it's denial of registration by INEC.
Justice Mohammed said that the YDP was believed registered when INEC failed to inform the then political association of its decision not to register it as a political party within 30 days of receiving it's application, as required under Section 78(4) of the Electoral Act, 2010.
INEC was said to have received the association application on April 1,2014 but only notified the applicant of its decision not to register it on September 15, 2014.
According to Malam Abubakar Malami the law required that a political party must be registered within 90 days before elections.
As such, the 90 days for the YDP would count from Wednesday when the judgement was delivered.
For Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, the YDP cannot be part of the election because of the 90 days provision.
"The judgement will nor affect the election in any way", Keyamo said.
Editor's Note: This article was first published on March. 4, 2015 but edited today (March 6, 2015) to report the recent development and reactions that have emerged.
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