When Can INEC Deregister a Political Party under Nigeria’s Electoral Act?
Under Section 225A of the Constitution (amended by the Fourth Alteration Act of 2017), INEC may deregister a party for failing to meet its legal requirements, poor electoral performance, or non-participation in elections. First, all parties must satisfy Section 222’s registration rules: properly register national officers, submit a party constitution to INEC, and demonstrate national spread. A breach of any condition can trigger removal. Second, a party must win at least 25% of votes cast in one state during a presidential election or 25% in one local government area during a governorship contest. It also needs to secure at least one ward chairmanship, one seat in the National or State Assembly, and one councillorship seat. Finally, lawmakers have argued that parties that never field candidates or only litigate without contesting should face deregistration. INEC has confirmed it may remove any party that falls short of these statutory thresholds.
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