The Youth Party, once deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, on Thursday regained its license as one of Nigeria’s political parties after a long-standing legal battle again the commission. It becomes the 19th political party registered to participate in elections in Nigeria.

The electoral commission announced its new status in a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye after a meeting to deliberate on the judgement of the Supreme court, ordering the commission to recognise the validity of the Youth Party in the country.

YP has been in legal battles with INEC since 2018, when it was deregistered by the electoral umpire before the 2019 general elections. To regain its registration, the party dragged the electoral commission to the lower courts before getting an order from the apex court in December, 2022 to legitimise itself as a political party in the country.

Upholding the appeal court judgement, the Supreme Court also affirmed that the commission acted illegally, and that such action should be declared null and void, adding that the party was eligible to participate in the 2023 general elections.

Conceding to the court’s order, the electoral commission stated that it has now enlisted the political party, adding that it has held an interface interfaced with officials of the party on the modalities for its operation based on the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the guidelines of the commission. Mr Okoye also noted that in line with the court’s judgement, the party would be given every privilege accorded to other political parties in the country.

The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today, Thursday, 20th July 2023 and among other issues deliberated on the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the deregistration of the Youth Party (YP) as a political party.

“It will be recalled that the Youth Party (YP) was registered on 16th August 2018 by virtue of the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on 16th October 2017. Following the Commission’s decision to deregister some parties in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Youth Party approached the Federal High Court and secured an Order restraining the Commission from deregistering it.

“On appeal by the Commission, the Court of Appeal set aside the Order of the Federal High Court and on further appeal by the party, the Supreme Court set aside the deregistration of the party.

“Based on the judgement of the Supreme Court, the Commission interfaced with officials of the Youth Party on the modalities for its operation based on the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.

“Consequently, the Commission has recognised the Youth Party (YP) as the 19th Political Party in Nigeria with all the rights and privileges accorded political parties in Nigeria”.

The nucleus of the promoters of the Youth Party are young political activists in the private sector. One of their aims is to assist competent and right-thinking youth into elective public offices, and have been in existence since 5th December, 2009. It is a new generation political association made up of individuals and groups that seek to serve and unite Nigerians. “We intend to develop and improve the standard of living of all Nigerians” the party states on its website.

The Youth Party claims to believe in service oriented political leadership, politics of reason and reform, transparent political leadership and followership. Some of its objectives include:
• To support and advance the cause of democracy as a set of sacred principles and values by shunning violence, money politics, bribery, ethnic and religious divisive politics
• To devolve powers equitably between the Federal, State, and Local Governments in the spirit of federalism
• To develop political leaders and ideas that focus on public service and national interest with commitment to high standards of integrity and austerity
• Engage, when not in government, in effective opposition role with focus on ideas that will advance socio-economic development of Nigeria
• To develop an equitable society, with the provision of social amenities particularly quality basic education, universal health care and social housing for the poor.
• Encourage the Nigerian youth to be organized politically to determine the Nigeria of their future
• To create a new Nigerian personality who will be patriotic, altruistic, transparent and committed to due process and rule of law in governance, industry and other spheres of our national life