The Peoples Democratic Party on Friday denied being behind the recent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister 28 political parties.
Among those affected by the deregistration are Pastor Chris Okotie's Fresh Democratic Party; Balarabe Musa's Peoples Redemption Party; and the National Reformation Party, founded by the late nationalist, Anthony Enahoro.
The National Advance Party of Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, as well as the Democratic Peoples Alliance of ex-Finance Minister, Chief Olu Falae, are also on the list.
In deregistering the parties, INEC had said all of them fell short of the requirements of the law.
But the leaders of some of the parties accused the ruling PDP of instigating the electoral body to take the decision.
The party's National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in an interview with State House correspondents, however, denied the insinuation.
Metuh said the allegation was normal since a losing team in a football march would always accuse the referee of bias.
He said, "It is normal in a football match, when there is a winning team, the losing team will always accuse the referee of being bias.
"We're not the referees, we are not the arbiter, we are part of the team, we are playing in the field, we listened like them and we await the decision of INEC and we will abide with the decision of INEC, it is an independent body."
