50 parties register for polls
2006-11-08 21:07
Abuja - Fifty political parties have officially been registered for the April 2007 presidential and general elections, said the head of the Nigeria's electoral agency on Wednesday.
The chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (Inec), Maurice Iwu, said: "Fifty political parties out of more than one hundred associations that sought registration have been registered to sponsor candidates at the elections."
The law prohibits corporate bodies or associations other than registered political parties from canvassing for votes or contributing to any political party or election expenses of any candidate.
Thirty political parties participated in 2003 elections as against three that were registered for the 1999 elections.
The commission declined to comment on whether more political parties could still be accommodated before the elections.
Nation assured of free and fair elections
It made a public presentation of the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2007 elections.
According to the timetable, political parties may flag off campaigns for governorship and state parliament elections from January 14, while campaigns for presidential and national assembly polls could begin a week later.
The timetable states that the governorship and parliamentary elections will be held on April 14, while the presidential and national assembly elections have been scheduled for April 21.
The commission assured the nation of free and fair elections against the backdrop of mounting apprehension that the exercise may be marred with irregularities and rigging.
"We shall not disappoint you. Our steps and actions are steadily moving towards credible, free and fair elections come 2007 and by the grace of God, we will not only reach the promised land, we shall triumphantly enter it," said Iwu.