A political association, I Love Nigeria, has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the rejection of its proposed name and logo during the ongoing political party registration process.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2002/2025), was initiated by the group’s Protem National Chairman, John Collins Nwobodo, Esq, and Protem National Secretary, Aya Yakubu.
In its originating summons, I Love Nigeria is asking the court to determine whether INEC has the legal authority to reject a political association’s application solely on the grounds of the name and logo being “unsuitable”, especially when the proposed identity complies with all relevant constitutional and statutory provisions.
The association cites the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 79(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022) as the legal frameworks supporting their claim.
Reliefs sought by the association include;
- A declaration that INEC lacks the authority to disapprove the association’s application based on its name and logo.
- A court order compelling INEC to accept the name I Love Nigeria and the submitted logo as valid.
- An injunction restraining INEC from excluding the group from the registration process.
- A directive compelling INEC to provide administrative guidance and support throughout the registration stages, as outlined in Section 75 of the Electoral Act.
The plaintiffs argue that the name and logo submitted meet all legal requirements and that INEC’s rejection is arbitrary and unlawful.
They are requesting the court to nullify INEC’s decision and allow the association to proceed with the next steps in the registration process.
This case emerges amid heightened tensions after INEC reportedly rejected 157 letters of intent from various associations vying for political party registration, prompting widespread criticism and legal challenges from affected groups.
