Acronym saga: INEC rejects APC’s registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,
Monday, rejected the application by the African
Peoples Congress, one of the political associations in
contention for the acronym, APC, saying that the
association breached Section 222 (a) of the 1999
Nigerian Constitution as amended.
The controversial APC that had earlier pasted its
posters all around Abuja had raised the alarm that
INEC had plotted to deny them registration with no
reason, saying that they would resist any of such
attempts and would also contest it even up to the
Supreme Court level. However, the Commission’s
Director, Public Affairs, Emmanuel Umenger when
contacted had denied any of such plot.
Umenger, confirmed that the Commission rejected
the application from the African peoples Congress for
failing to meet INEC stipulated requirements and that
the association had been duly informed.
He said: “The Commission has written to this political
association and had stated in very clear terms that
they are in breach of section 222 (a) of the
constitution with the additional explanations stated in
the letter. The Commission also observed that the
submission made on form PA 1 does not contain the
addresses of the national officers of the political
association as stipulated and it means this association
has the responsibility to prove, because these are the
things the commission has observed and the law says
if you do not meet any of these requirements you will
not be registered as a political party
“The commission has gone ahead to explain in its
letter I have on my table. The letter we have sent
today was duly signed by the Secretary to the
Commission, Abdulahi Kaugama and it is self
explanatory, the letter is dated 21, 2013 which was
signed and collected by one Michael Ogani of APC.”
According to INEC’s letter, INEC/DPPM&L/APC/490/
V.1/76, dated March 21, 2013, addressed to “The
Chairman, Proposed African People’s Congress,” and
with the title: ‘Re-Application for Registration as a
political party’ it stated that African Peoples Congress
breached Section 222 (a) of the Nigeria Constitution.
The letter signed by the INEC’s Secretary, Alhaji
Abdulahi Kaugama reads in parts; “Your application
for registration as a political party dated 28th
February, 2013 refers. The Commission has observed
that your association is in breach of Section 222 (a) of
the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria,
1999 (as amended) which stipulates as follows: “No
association by whatever name called shall function as
a political party unless; the names and addresses of
its national officers are registered with the
Independent National Electoral Commission;. A close
observation of your submitted form PA 1 established
that it does not contain the addresses of your
national officers as stipulated in the provisions above.
Consequently, the commission shall not register the
proposed African Peoples Congress (APC) as a political
party.”