Section 18, The Political Parties Act, 2002

(1) Any number of political parties may, by writtenagreement, come together to form a single association or a merger (2) Where under the agreement referred to in subsection (1) 5 6 Powers of to refuse registration. Appeal against refusal of registration. Mergers, splinters and other reconstitutions of political parties. Prohibition of piblic officers. (a) a new association comes into being, such association shall seek fresh registration and the provisions of Part III shall, mutatis mutandis, apply thereto; (b) the single association retains or is to retain substantially the name, colour, motto and other symbols of identification of one of the constituent political parties, that association shall continue in existence as a political party by the name, colour, motto and other symbols or identification before the merger, and the political parties or party absorbed in the merger shall cease to exist; and (c) a coalition is formed or intended, the political parties involved shall continue to exist in their individual capacities. (3) Unless otherwise provided in the agreement referred to in subsection (1), the property, assets, rights and liabilities of a political party which ceases to exist after a merger shall vest in the political party which is in existence after the merger. (4) Where any group of members of a political party breaks away from that political party to form a new association, such new association shall seek fresh registration to function as a political party. PART IV-CONDUCT OF POLITICAL PARTIES