Party Deregistration Order: NEDMO Cautions Govt Against Triggering National Instability, Advises INEC To Maintain Status Quo
The New Direction for Nigeria Movement (NEDMO)has condemned the recent court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties.
An Abuja High Court on Monday issued the order to deregister five opposition parties for failing to fulfil constitutional requirements.
Opposing the court order, the group said in a statement on Monday:
“The New Direction for Nigeria Movement (NEDMO)has strongly condemns the recent court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties.
“This judicial directive is a dangerous assault on multi-party democracy.
“It is capable of truncating Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy and national stability.
“This reckless order is a direct assault on democratic pluralism and the suppression of political alternatives which restrict the civic space.
“It mutes the diverse voices that enrich our national discourse and political ecosystem.
“It silences minority groups, limits voters’ choices, chokes political expression and further weakens out already fragile democratic institutions.
“Moreover, it is a huge threat to national stability because forcing political groups out of the democratic and legal frameworks for participatory democracy breeds deep resentments, pushes legitimate political actors into desperation thereby fueling political exclusion that breeds mass public distrust and voter apathy that can also trigger the risk of civil unrest that Nigeria can ill-afford at this challenging period of intractable insecurity.
“Those orchestrating this may think that they are helping the Party in power.
“But what they are doing is dangerously overheating the polity and further blackmailing the party in power that many Nigerians already see as the number one suspect behind the current judicial show of shame.
“NEDMO urges the Judiciary to protect constitutional freedoms instead of shrinking the political landscape.
“We call on INEC to exercise restraint and explore all legal remedies to protect the multi-party system.
“Nigeria’s democracy thrives on participation, not elimination.
“Therefore, INEC must be circumspect in its approach to the Justice Lifu order by refraining from executing the orders until the appeals have been exhausted and the matter finally decided by the highest court in the land.
“For now, INEC should ignore the order.”
