INEC May Reprint Ballot Papers

There are reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have to reprint ballot papers for the forthcoming elections to accommodate a political party which was not listed among duly registered parties by the commission, National Mirror reports.

This follows the ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which  ordered INEC to include the Young Democratic Party (YDP) among duly registered  political parties.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed made the order in his judgment on the suit filed by the party, challenging its denial of registration by INEC.

Justice Mohammed said that The Young Democratic Party (YDP) was believed registered when INEC failed to inform the then political association‎ of its decision not to register it as a political party within 30 days of receiving its application, as required under Section 78 (4) of the Electoral Act, 2010‎.

INEC was said to have received the association’s application on April 1, 2014 but only notified the applicant of its decision not to register it on September 15, 2014. (National Mirror)