Include “I Love Nigeria” Among Political Associations Eligible To Proceed To Application Stage, Federal High Court Directs INEC

Include “I Love Nigeria” Among Political Associations Eligible To Proceed To Application Stage

OpenLife reports that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, March 9, delivered judgment in the suit filed by “I Love Nigeria” against the Independent National Electoral Commission over its exclusion after the Commission shortlisted 14 political associations last year to proceed to the application stage.

It will be recalled that 171 political associations had submitted letters of intent to register as political parties but INEC disqualified over 150 of the associations which included “I Love Nigeria.”

Peeved, incensed and infuriated by the decision, “I Love Nigeria” through its National Chairman, Chief John Nwobodo and its National Secretary, Aya Yakubu Ayiwulu, sued the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The suit has now culminated into a judgment today.

Delivering the judgment, the court granted a perpetual injunction restraining INEC from excluding “I Love Nigeria” from the registration process.

The court also directed INEC to include “I Love Nigeria” in the list of political associations eligible to proceed to the application stage.

The court set aside the decision of INEC that the name “I Love Nigeria” and its logo [the mirror symbol] are unsuitable for registration as a political party.

The court also granted a declaration that the name “I Love Nigeria” and the logo associated with it does not fall short of the criteria/checklist prescribed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Electoral Act, 2022, and therefore suitable within the context of both the Constitutional and Statutory provisions.