INEC receives average of five applications for registration of political parties weekly – Idowu

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday said it receives an average of five applications for registration of new political parties weekly.
Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
The spokesman was fielding questions from NAN on the alleged rumour that six governors of the Peoples Democratic Party had approached the commission for the registration of a new political party.
Idowu said: “It is a normal thing for politicians to approach INEC for the registration of new political party, but it is not the duty of INEC to place priority over any application.
“INEC as a political umpire was saddled with the responsibility of registration and de-registration of political parties.
“It is INEC that decides whether anyone meets the required standard in accordance with the electoral law.”
Idowu said the commission receives application for registration weekly and would consider each in accordance with the law.
He added that INEC was only barred from entertaining such requests 90 days before a general election.