INEC Admits Earlier Rejected Party Lists
In an apparent move to douse increasing tension within some political parties who failed to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission’s deadline for the submission of list of candidates, the electoral body on Friday admitted the submission of Forms CF001 and CF002 by 12 political parties which it earlier rejected for breaching the 6p.m. deadline on Monday, January 31, 2011.
According to the Director of Public Affairs at the Commission, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger, INEC’s acceptance of the list from the defaulting political parties is a product of the electoral umpire’s magnanimous reconsideration of the enforcement of compliance with deadline, to allow for maximum inclusiveness of the democratic space.
“Eleven parties had all their nominations, which were previously rejected, admitted. These include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Progressive Action Congress (PAC), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Action Alliance (AA), Justice Party (JP) and Nigeria Advance Party (NAP). Others are the Freedom Party of Nigeria (FPN), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Kowa Party (KP), Nigerian Peoples Congress (NPC) and National Majority Democratic Party (NMDP)â€
Umenger further stated that the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ) whose nominations for Gombe State were earlier rejected was also admitted.
The Commission warned political parties to henceforth adhere with stipulated deadlines in the Schedule of Electoral Activities or have themselves to blame.
By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja
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