The Centre for Electoral Integrity and Democratic Accountability (CEIDA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to promptly restore the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to its official portal, arguing that recent court rulings have effectively settled the leadership dispute within the party.
The organisation said that restoring the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the commission’s portal should logically be followed by recognising the PDP leadership structure that has been affirmed by both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, CEIDA’s National President, Abbas Ahmed, expressed concern over what he described as INEC’s inconsistent approach to the recognition of political parties and their leadership structures.
According to him, the commission has yet to fully regain the trust and confidence of many Nigerians due to repeated controversies surrounding its decisions and the widespread perception of bias in favour of the ruling party.
“Now that the SDP has been restored on the portal, the next logical step should be the recognition of the Peoples Democratic Party, whose position has been vindicated by both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal,” Ahmed said.
He noted that democracy can only flourish when institutions operate strictly within the confines of the law and resist the temptation to be influenced by partisan interests.
“INEC has yet to earn the trust and confidence of Nigerians in light of its flip-flopping on recognition issues and its apparent bias toward protecting the interests of the ruling party. While we know, as a fact, that he who pays the piper dictates the tune, INEC must recognize its constitutional role as an independent and impartial umpire,” he stated.
The electoral reform advocate emphasized that the commission’s constitutional mandate includes the registration and deregistration of political parties, as well as the conduct of free, fair, credible and transparent elections.
He therefore urged the electoral body to adhere strictly to the rule of law in all matters relating to political parties, warning that selective compliance with judicial pronouncements could erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
Ahmed also dismissed arguments that INEC could not act because there was no express order directing it to recognize the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the PDP.
According to him, such a position lacks merit, particularly when the substance and implications of the judgments are clear and unambiguous.
“The argument being canvassed that there was no express statement in the judgment granting INEC leave to recognize the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee should not hold water. The interpretation and effect of judgments are easily discernible to legal practitioners, and the Chairman of INEC is himself a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” he said.
CEIDA further stated that protecting the integrity of legacy political parties remains essential to Nigeria’s democratic survival, stressing that institutions entrusted with safeguarding democracy must discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour.
The organization urged INEC to demonstrate its independence by faithfully implementing judicial decisions and ensuring that all political parties are treated fairly, equitably and in accordance with the law.
