Justice Taiwo-Taiwo stated while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Hope Democratic Party against the electoral umpire.
He said INEC was empowered by the Constitution to deregister parties that failed to meet the provisions of Section 225 subsection A.
The HDP had filed the suit, asking the court to declare that INEC cannot deregister it as a political party except in accordance with the law.
The party also prayed the court for an order mandating the electoral body to relist it as a political party in the country.
But Justice Taiwo held that HDP fell short of Section 225 sub section A and also had nothing to show to the court that the action of INEC to deregister it as a political party was unlawful.
In a judgment delivered in the suit filed by another political group – the National Unity Party, the judge had also affirmed the constitutional power of the electoral commission.
The National Unity Party is also one of the 74 parties deregistered by the INEC in February.
