The Federal High Court in Abuja has intervened in a long-standing dispute between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Grassroot Initiative Party (GRIP). On Thursday, a judge ordered INEC to reopen its registration portal for 27 days, allowing GRIP to complete its registration as a political party.
This decision came after the court found that INEC acted against its own Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, by shutting the portal three days after issuing an access code to GRIP. The judge, Binta Nyako, rejected INEC's argument that the suit was incompetent and statute-barred, citing the commission's failure to provide evidence of notification to GRIP about the portal's closure.
GRIP had sued INEC for shutting the portal before the 30-day period expired, despite payment of the required administrative fee. The plaintiffs argued that the 30-day window was part of the access conditions issued by INEC and was backed by the commission's guidelines.
The court's decision to order INEC to reopen its registration portal for GRIP is a significant victory for the party and its members. This move highlights the need for INEC to adhere to its own regulations and guidelines, rather than imposing arbitrary deadlines. The fact that GRIP had paid the required administrative fee and still had 27 days left to complete the registration process underscores the commission's failure to provide a level playing field for all political parties. This development has significant implications for the upcoming elections, as it may embolden other parties to challenge INEC's decisions in court. The question now is whether INEC will comply with the court's order and allow GRIP to complete its registration without further delay.
