CNPP faults moves to de-register political parties

BY  VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA-THE South-East zone of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, said yesterday it was opposed to the proposal by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister political parties that could not win any seat during the last general elections.

The zonal chairman of CNPP, Mr. Isaac Onuka, who is also the chairman of Anambra State chapter of CNPP, said in an interview in Awka that any attempt to deny some political parties their right of existence would be tantamount to disenfranchising millions of Nigerians who belong to the affected political parties.

According to him, INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, should provide a level playing field for all political parties in the country, instead of trying to introduce a two-party system in the country through the back door.

His said: “President Goodluck Jonathan should prevail on Professor Jega to shelve the idea because it infringes on the fundamental human rights of those who are either members or supporters of the political parties who have the right to free association.

“The INEC chairman has succeeded in denying political parties the funds they were receiving from the commission in the past and wants to add salt to injury by planning to de-register them.

“Instead of trying to find ways of conducting free and fair election in the country, he is toying with the idea of reducing the number of political parties. Our stand is that all the parties should be allowed to exist and work harder to win elections in future.”