By Time Nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it would make its decision on political associations seeking to be registered as political parties known come Wednesday.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this on Monday in an interview with newsmen at on-going workshop reviewing INEC’s communication policy in Abuja.
According to the INEC Chairman, he said the decision would be made public after the commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners scheduled for Wednesday in Kaduna.
Yakubu pointed out that under the Electoral Act, INEC is expected to register new political party, adding that the guidelines are very clear on this.
“Let me assure Nigerians that under the Electoral Act, the commission is required to register new political parties and the guidelines are very clear.
“As at last week, we received 95 applications for registration as new political parties.
“At the end of this workshop, there is going to be a retreat on Wednesday to review the ongoing voter registration, followed by a meeting of the commission in Kaduna.
“There will be a statement on parties after the meeting of the commission,” Yakubu said.
He equally said that the commission would, on Wednesday, also give an update on the on-going nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, after the commission’s meeting with the field officers to review the exercise.
“We will do a mid-quarter review after six weeks and the mid-quarter review will come up here in Kaduna and we will issue our statement hereafter.”