The purported deregistration of our party, FRESH (Fresh Democratic Party) as announced by Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday, December 6, 2012 came to us as a rude shock, even though the commission only made good its long standing threat to embark on this undemocratic action against all rationale thinking and public opinion.

It is also an affront on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the decision of the Court of Appeal on the vexed issue.

We condemn and reject this unilateral and anti-democratic action which is designed to further shut out the opposition from the democratic space; and we would seek legal redress for this injustice in the court of law. It is obvious that the ruling party, the PDP is afraid of the growing stature and acceptability of our party and therefore uses this arm twisting tactic to remove our party from the list.

It is unheard of that a ruling party will unilaterally decide that the size, spread and strength of opposition parties should be the basis of their existence, when the constitution provides for freedom of association of groups or persons of diverse creed or political persuasions and philosophies.
You will recall that the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division in an appeal filed by Peoples Redemption Party and others on the issue of registration stated succinctly and unambiguously that INEC had no power to refuse to register a party that has fulfilled the required constitutional provision; and by extension no power whatsoever to de-register a party that has fulfilled all constitutional stipulations.

At no time in our political history did those criteria formed the basis of party existence. It is, therefore, without precedent and should not stand.

The PDP cannot adjudicate in a matter in which it has a clear, vested interest. It cannot determine by force of its present numerical strength in the federal legislature to decide which parties it approves to be its opponent in electoral contests. To allow this unlawful deregistration to stand in this era of deregulation is to condone a perpetration of injustice by the ruling party against the opposition. It would amount to a tyranny of the majority.

It is widely acknowledged that the PDP’s majority was secured through a combination of scientific rigging and other fraudulent devices as the upturning of some of its ‘electoral victories’ at governorship levels have shown.

Moreover, INEC erred by refusing to base its decision on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria relying solely on the Electoral Act 2010, which runs foul and is inconsistent with the Constitution.

Every party is evolving. The young shall grow, as they say. A small party can grow into a big party over time. A regional party can, through mergers for instance, grow into a big national party. We have seen that happen everywhere including here in our beloved country. Our nascent democracy is only 13years old and the PDP is already writing off smaller opposition parties, which it obviously perceives as threats to its hegemony because of the strong personalities behind these parties.

The most the government could have done is to discontinue the funding of parties it deems ‘’weak’’ and see if they’d die a natural death. This option is open to INEC but it chooses to play the tune discharged by its piper- PDP. It should be noted that some of the parties, have a subsisting suit in court that challenges INEC’s decision on party deregistration , yet without regard for the rule of law, the commission went ahead to effect this illegality.

While pursuing the option of seeking justice, we urge our teeming supporters to remain calm. What we stand for is at the heart of the Nigerian project and it cannot be legislated out of existence.

 
Signed
Ladi Ayodeji
Director, Media and Publicity
FRESH

http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/12/07/press-release-chris-okoties-fresh-rejects-purported-deregistration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=press-release-chris-okoties-fresh-rejects-purported-deregistration

ok,noted...

A lot of these parties are really businesses. They run elections just to build up donor and supporter money even though they know they will lose. After the money is built up they happily lose and enjoy the profits.

What are they rejecting? What seat do they currently occupy as a party? The constitution says that INEC should de-register parties that are wasting their time.

Isnt Chris Okotie a pastor?

It is obvious that the ruling party, the PDP is afraid of the growing stature and acceptability of our party and therefore uses this arm twisting tactic to remove our party from the list.

Hahahahahahahaha na wia dis party dey grow in stature? Na inside Church? Electoral business guys. Thieves!

Why won't they reject na? INEC don spoil market for them na.

Rubbish

Is that legal? Or is PDP just trying to give people less options?

Politics of deceit,and church business.

afam4eva: What are they rejecting? What seat do they currently occupy as a party? The constitution says that INEC should de-register parties that are wasting their time.

@ bolded: what section?

I don't believe that political parties should be de-registered. De-registering them deprives the members of a voice and restricts their rights to freedom of association (how I wish Gani was alive. He fought INEC on the issue of stringent conditionalities for registration of political parties and won).

What INEC can do is to stop giving public funds to parties that do not win elections (eg local government, national assembly elections, etc).

I think okotie should concentrate on his ministry now. This a sign that he is not the messiah we are waiting for.

Na all dis big big grama and long essay make people no vote chris okotie. Him don come again

by fire, by thunder.....re-register FRESH PARTY with imediate alacrity.

*******yawning***********

dat party has no structure anywhere apart from lagos(his church).
okotie also never campaigns outside lagos

sen. oscar:
I think okotie should concentrate on his ministry now. This a sign that he is not the messiah we are waiting for.

Challenges is not a sign of divine opposition, in fact sometimes its a clear sign you are making progress. Without friction wheels would cover no distance; its in trying to overcome the opposition that wheels make movement. So instead of him to retire, let him refire especially if he is very sure God told him. Who knows an unanticipated revolution may just take place and change the formula to electoral victory.

I trust d man........he no go agree

when i saw and read about d news yesterday, i told d pple around me that if everybody fold their arms and accept their fate that i trust Okotie, he would fight it to d end......... Thank God, i'm not dissapointed by him.

Easy for you guys to say stuffs against okotie but when facts are being raised against oyedepo and adeboye you would be defending them as if they were Jesus and God respectively! Is it bad that a pastor is tying to run for an office? At least he's not pretending.

Come to think of it, reducing the numbers of opposition parties even makes opposing stronger.

he's 1 of d 'shames' in christiandom,i gues he's got notin gud 2 do wit his moni despite d needy in his church.........hmm

Bros go n get married n raise ur own family,u can NEVER NEVER rule dis kontri

I wonder why most Nigerians are fun of playing undue overlapping role when it is not necessary. Must you diversify the "Church Business"? I used to believed that, Pastors utterances/actions are basically rooted on what they see clearly via divine direction(Holy spirit) but unfortunately reverse is the case in what we're seeing today. I remember the interview granted by Fresh presidential candidate few days before the general election and I quote him;"by this time next week, PDP will go into oblivion when the will of God will prevail as I will be declared the winner of this election come April 14" was this just a common bragging likely to be attributed to a typical worldly individual? I think there is a serious problem in the Church of today. Politics is good but, business in politics is the only evil covering the beauty. Let's play politics of service rather than seeing politics as an avenue of self enrichment/business opportunity. Kudos to INEC for this unfold action.

The fewer the political parties, the stronger the opposition. Imagine if all the other parties came together as one.they will comfortably beat Pdp. How many parties does America have (only 2) obasanjo allowed the addition of all these parties to weaken the opposition.... And it worked.

Seeking redress in court is one of the beauties of democracy. I am convinced that INEC has no powers to de register a political party. The constitution supersedes an act, if INEC feels the need to de register any political party it should seek an amendment to the existing laws.

Aa Nri1: Is that legal? Or is PDP just trying to give people less options?

having 2 many opposition parties would b in pdp's advantage as it 'll split votes into fragments

ROCK-J:
The fewer the political parties, the stronger the opposition. Imagine if all the other parties came together as one.they will comfortably beat Pdp. How many parties does America have (only 2) obasanjo allowed the addition of all these parties to weaken the opposition.... And it worked.

The US has more than two political parties.

This Fresh party are crazy o. This self aclaimed man of God should use his money on the needies rather than ventures into what I perceive as rubbish

a pastor with a political party? Nigeria needs help