The Supreme Court has acknowledged the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-register 22 political parties.
The apex court on Friday, overturned an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which invalidated the de-registration.
The Court of Appeal had voided the decision of INEC on the grounds that the commission failed to accord the parties fair hearing and that the electoral body acted during the pendency of a suit by the parties.
The 22 parties are among the 74 de-registered in 2020 by INEC following their grim performances in previous elections.
Justice Ejembi Eko held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to have, on its own, raised the issue of lack of fair hearing, without hearing from parties in the case, and reached a conclusion that the 22 were not accorded fair hearing.
Justice Eko noted that the Court of Appeal took the issue of fair hearing out of the contemplation of the notice of appeal filed by the political parties, but refused to do the needful in order to be fair to others in the case.
He added that the Court of Appeal erred by raising the issue of fair hearing in favour of the political parties on its own, but failed to give opportunity to other respondents in the case to address it on the matter in order to arrive at a just conclusion.
“This appeal by INEC is meritorious and it is hereby allowed. The decision of the court below is set aside,” Justice Eko said. Other members of the panel that heard the appeal agreed with the lead judgment.
