From Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja

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The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has lamented non-release of its certificate of registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
ADP described the delay as disturbing.
The party claimed that INEC’s continued delay in the release of its certificate has affected its fortunes in five states.
The ADP completed its registration procedure in July 2016; and going by the provision of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended, it ought to have been registered by INEC within 30 days.
A letter by the National Chairman of the Mega party, YY Sani, dated May 31, 2017, addressed to INEC chairman, Mamood Yakubu, the party said the commission was yet to issue its certificate, four months after the last communication, despite completing the registration.
The May 31, 2017 letter to Mamood expressed worry that the fate of ADP members, who want to contest local government elections in Lagos, Ekiti, Cross River, Benue (concluded at the weekend) and Plateau, among others, is in jeopardy following INEC’s delay.
The letter quoted Section 78 of the Electoral Act thus: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 78(4) of the Electoral Act 201 (as amended) which states that a political association that meets the conditions stipulated in the Constitution and this Act shall be registered commission as a political party within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application, and if, after the 30 days, such association is not registered by the commission, unless the commission informs the association to the contrary, it shall be deemed to have been registered.”
According to the ADP, the commission was expected to have communicated its position to its headquarters to enable its members plan for the forthcoming local government elections in many states.
“INEC is expected to have communicated same (registration) to relevant authorities/agencies to facilitate the participation of ADP members in the forthcoming local elections in Lagos, Ekiti, Cross River, Benue, Plateau and all the states in the federation who are at risk of being unconstitutionally disenfranchised by the local election agencies,” the ADP wrote.
The party asked INEC to, immediately, comply with the provisions of Section 78 of the Electoral Act 2010 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended, by releasing its registration certificate without further delay.