The New Nigeria People’s Party led by Boniface Aniebonam has blamed Independent National Electoral Commission for its setbacks in concluding screenings and fixing its primaries for aspirants of the party.

The party also said that with no option left, it might have to mobilise for protest against the commission in Abuja.

NNPP shelved its planned protest against INEC over delays in uploading the authentic leadership of the party to its website, following appeals by well meaning Nigerians that it might be hijacked by hooligans to cause mayhem.

However, in a statement on Thursday, the party’s national secretary, Ogini Olaposi stated that INEC is again, pushing the NNPP to the wall with inexplicable delays that might deny the party its rights to fully participate in the 2027 elections.

“We used all legal means via the courts to get the commission to comply with Court orders and stop the unnecessary delays which we believe, is linked and masterminded by those who left the NNPP.

“The meeting between NNPP leadership and the Chairman of INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan and his management team at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on May 19, gave us an insight of what we suspected may  be causing the delay.

“The INEC chairman said the commission will revert soon and till date, it is yet to comply with the court order that gave it 72 hours to upload the NNPP National Working Committee-led by Dr Agbo Major,” it stated.

NNPP added, “It is most unfortunate that lNEC have refused to obey court orders, which sends a very wrong signal ahead of the election. INEC do not have the powers to disobey court orders.

“In every instance of any order of the court, the only option available to INEC is to obtain a stay of execution or to secure an appeal from a higher court to set aside the judgement or order of the court, which it has not done.”

According to Mr Olaposi, 60 days after, the commission has not complied with the order of the court. The Owerri Appeal Court followed suit and yet, INEC leadership is adamant.

(NAN)