The Centre for Electoral Integrity and Democratic Accountability (CEIDA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately restore the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to its official portal, arguing that recent court judgments have effectively resolved the party’s leadership crisis.
The organisation said that following the restoration of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on INEC’s portal, the commission should also recognise the PDP leadership structure affirmed by both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, CEIDA National President, Abbas Ahmed, expressed concern over what he described as INEC’s inconsistent approach to the recognition of political parties and their leadership structures.
According to him, the electoral commission has yet to fully regain the trust and confidence of many Nigerians due to recurring controversies surrounding its decisions and a widespread perception of bias in favour of the ruling party.
“Now that the SDP has been restored on the portal, the next logical step should be the recognition of the Peoples Democratic Party, whose position has been vindicated by both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal,” Ahmed said.
He stressed that democracy can only thrive when institutions operate strictly within the confines of the law and remain insulated from partisan influence.
“INEC has yet to earn the trust and confidence of Nigerians in light of its flip-flopping on recognition issues and its apparent bias toward protecting the interests of the ruling party. While we know, as a fact, that he who pays the piper dictates the tune, INEC must recognise its constitutional role as an independent and impartial umpire,” he stated.
Ahmed noted that INEC’s constitutional responsibilities include the registration and deregistration of political parties, as well as the conduct of free, fair, credible and transparent elections.
He urged the commission to adhere strictly to the rule of law in matters relating to political parties, warning that selective compliance with judicial pronouncements could further erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
The CEIDA president also dismissed claims that INEC could not act because there was no explicit court order directing it to recognise the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the PDP.
According to him, such arguments are untenable given the clear implications of the judgments delivered by the courts.
“The argument being canvassed that there was no express statement in the judgment granting INEC leave to recognise the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee should not hold water. The interpretation and effect of judgments are easily discernible to legal practitioners, and the Chairman of INEC is himself a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” he said.
CEIDA further maintained that safeguarding the integrity of long-standing political parties is crucial to Nigeria’s democratic stability, stressing that institutions charged with protecting democracy must perform their duties without fear or favour.
The organisation called on INEC to demonstrate its independence by faithfully implementing judicial decisions and ensuring that all political parties are treated fairly, equitably and in accordance with the law.
