The Tinubu-Kashim Coalition in the U.S. has called on political parties’ leadership to accept, in good faith, INEC’s declaration that all diaspora chapters of Nigerian political parties were illegal.
The convener, Adeola Alakija-Awogbemi, made the call in an interview on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to the declaration.
While declaring political parties’ diaspora chapters illegal, INEC said no provision in the law supported it.
In a statement on Friday, the commission explained that the constitution and the Electoral Act negated such chapters, stressing that political parties registered in Nigeria were not permitted to have Diaspora chapters.
It sighted sections 221, 222, 223, and 225 of the Constitution and sections 82 (1), (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which render such chapters illegal, null and void.
Mr Alakija-Awogbemi said rather than condemn the declaration, political parties should amend their constitutions to align with INEC’s decision on diaspora chapters.
She said this was especially true as it had become unlawful for any political party registered in the country to request or accept funds from their Diaspora chapters under any circumstances.
She noted that, according to INEC’s declaration, it was also illegal for the party’s leadership back home to continue supporting or patronising such chapters under any guise.
“I am a member of the APC in the U.S., and though ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the law, we thank INEC for the clarification. With the clarification and directives from INEC, I am confident that the APC National Working Committee will do what is necessary.
“I am sure the party’s leadership will amend its Constitution to align with that of the country and INEC’s Electoral Act. The Constitution is supreme, and we must abide by it as patriotic citizens.
“In line with the directive, we have decided to suspend all party diaspora activities as a law-abiding group,” she said.
She advised other political parties to follow suit, saying all Nigerians must obey the country’s constitution and the electoral act.
(NAN)