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[OLD] INEC Guidelines For The Registration Of Political Parties
Dated 25th Day of April, 2002
ABUJA.


In exercise of the powers conferred on it by the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Electoral Act 2001, the
independent National Electoral Commission, (in these guidelines
referred to as the Commission) hereby issues the following guidelines
for the registration of Political Parties.

1.

A political party for the purpose of these guidelines is defined as
an organisation of registered voters that has qualified to
participate in an election by meeting all prescribed statutory
requirements.

2.

An application by a political association seeking registration as a
political party (hereinafter referred to as "an Association") shall
be addressed to the Chairman of he Commission and submitted to the
Commission's Headquarters not later than 4.p.m on the 180th day
preceding the commencement of the next general elections. (States and
Federal elections)

3.

The application for registration as a political party shall be made
on the Commission's Form PA1 in twenty copies and shall be
accompanied by the following documents:-

a. The name of the proposed party;

b. The names, signatures and residential addresses of the Chairman
and Secretary of the
Associations filling the application.

c. Evidence of payment of the prescribed fee of N100,000.00(One
Hundred Thousand Naira)

d. Twenty copies of the Associations Constitution and Manifesto.


4.

No Association by whatever name called shall be registered as a
political party unless the Association submits to the Chairman of the
Commission in person not later than 4.pm on the 150th day preceding
the next general elections the following documents:-

a.  The names, Signatures, Residential addresses and States and Local
Government Areas of origin respectively of the members of its
National and State Executive Committees and the records of
proceedings of the meeting where these officers were elected.

b. The name or acronym of the Association must:

i) not be the same as the name or acronym of an existing party or any
organisation;

ii) not have any ethnic, religious, professional or other sectional
connotation;

iii) not give the appearance that its activities are confined to a
part only of Nigeria;

iv) not be couched in such a way as to be capable of misleading the
voters.

c.  A register showing that its membership is open to every citizen
of Nigeria (who is a registered voter) irrespective of place of
origin, circumstances of birth, ethnic group, sex of religion.

d. A copy of the Association's Constitution which must be registered
in the Commission's Form PA1 and shall contain among other things.

i) The Association's aims and objectives, name, symbol and motto'

ii) Provisions for periodic elections and democratic basis of the
principal officers and members of the Executive Committees or other
governing bodies.

iii) A provision that the membership or other governing bodies and
administrative personnel at the National level reflect the Federal
character principle of the Constitution of the Federal Republic.

iv) A provision showing that its constitution and manifesto conform
with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2001
and these guidelines.

v) A provision relating to disciplinary procedure of the association
stating clearly the method of expelling an ordinary member, party
official, political office holder including persons elected into
public office on the platform of the Association.

vi) A provision relating to the method of amendment or alteration of
the constitution and

vii) A provision stating that the National Headquarters of the
Association is suitable in the Federal Capital Territory.

e. Names, signatures, thumbprints, date of joining, residential
addresses of registered voters in at least 24 States of the
Federation and FCT who are members of the Association and do not
belong to any other political party or any other political
Associations.

f. An affidavit sworn to by the Chairman or Secretary of the
Association to the effect that no member of the Executive association
is a member of any other existing party or existing political
associations.

g. A bank statement indicating the bank account into which all income
of the proposed political Association has been paid and shall
continue to be paid and from which all expenses are paid and shall be
paid.

h. The address of its Headquarters office in Abuja and the addresses
of its office, list of its staff, list of its operational equipment
and furniture in at least 24 states of the Federation.

i. Evidence of ownership or rental of such office.

5.

The symbol of the Association must not portray any of the following.

i) Coat of Arms of the Federation.

ii) Coat of Arms of any other Country.

iii) Any devices or emblem which is normally associated with any of
the following.

1) Any official acts of government or Armed Forces of the federation
of Nigeria or Nigeria Police Force or other uniformed service, or

2) Any tribe or ethnic group

3) Any religion or cult.

4) Any portrait of a person living or dead.

5) Any symbol or a part of a symbol which has been registered by
another political party in Nigeria or political Association or any
public organisation.


6.

A person shall not be eligible to be registered as a member of
political associations seeking to be registered as a political party
if he/she:-

a) Has not attained the age of 18 years.

b) Has not registered as a voter in the area where he/she intends to
vote during the elections.

c) Is a traditional ruler

d) Is a member of the public service of the federation or of a state
as defined by the Constitution.

e) Is a member of the Armed Forces of the federation or a Nigeria
Police Force or security and paramilitary organs of the government
and

f) Membership shall be in personal capacity not by reason of being a
member of youth club, wing, or vanguard or any association, seeking
registration.

7.

After the last date for the submission of applications by
associations wishing to be registered as a political parties, the
Commission shall consider all the applicants received and verify the
claims of the associations.

8.

The Commission in verifying the claims shall among other things:-

a. Display the list of the names on the application and membership of
the political association as contained in the documents submitted to
the Commission, in every State and LGA of the federation for seven
(7) days for public scrutiny and objections.

b. Check the names on the application to ensure that they are
registered voters.

c. Check whether the membership contravenes any of the provisions of
Paragraph
6 of these guidelines.

d.  Ascertain whether:-

i) The associations has offices in 24 states of the federation and in
the Federal Capital Territory as required by paragraph 4 of these
guidelines.

ii) The constitution and manifesto of the association comply with the
provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2001 and these
guidelines.

iii) The composition of members of its executives committees and
administrative personnel take into account the federal character
principle of the federation and peculiarity and diversity of the
people.

iv) The name, acronym, motto and symbol do not offend the provisions
of the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2001 and these guidelines.

v) The Association is structured and committed to the principles of
democracy, secularism and other social objectives as spelt out in
Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

9.

1) where the commission is satisfied that an Association has
fulfilled all the conditions prescribed for registration by the
Constitution, the Electoral Act and these guidelines, the Commission
shall register such an Association as a political party by issuing it
with a Certificate of Registration duly signed by the Chairman of the
Commission.

2) If the Commission is not satisfied that an association has
fulfilled all the conditions prescribed for registration, it shall
not register such an association as a political party and shall
notify it accordingly.

3) In notifying the Association, the Commission must state in writing
the grounds for its refusal.

4) Any false declaration shall result in non-registration of the
Association.


10.

1) A newly registered political party shall in the first place
participate only in the local government elections.

2) The newly registered political party shall thereafter participate
in the state and national election if, and only if, it scores ten
percent of the seats during the LGA Elections in each of, not less
than 24 states of the Federation including Abuja.

3) Where the newly registered political party fails to score 10% of
the seats during the LGA elections as envisaged by paragraph.  10(2)
of theses guidelines party shall continue to operate only at local
government level in all subsequent elections as envisaged by
paragraph  10(1) until such a time it complies with the provisions of
paragraph  10(2)


Dated This 25th Day of April, 2002
ABUJA.