Reps seek electoral reform, propose new body for party registration

• The bill proposes an independent body solely responsible for political party registration and regulations to enhance electoral credibility.
• After a voice vote, lawmakers supported the bill, forwarding it to relevant committees for further legislative scrutiny.

A proposed law aiming to create an independent body responsible for registering, overseeing, and financing political parties in Nigeria advanced to its second reading on Thursday in the House of Representatives.

This legislation, jointly sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Marcus Onobun, a lawmaker from Edo, intends to transfer the registration and supervision of political parties away from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

During Thursday’s session, led by Abbas, Onobun, who represents Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency, explained the bill’s key aspects, stating that INEC should not regulate political parties.

He stated, “The call for transparency in the electoral process in Nigeria has continued to dominate public discourse in recent years. This is evidenced by the increased number of electoral disputes at all levels.

“All stakeholders in the electoral process are in tandem with the fact that no nation can elect credible leaders and experience good governance where the process of electing her leaders is marred by irregularities.”

He further stated that the credibility of elections relies on a fair, unbiased, and open system for political party registration and electoral procedures.

Some individuals, whether rightly or wrongly, attribute electoral flaws to INEC. Regardless of one’s perspective, it is undeniable that electoral reforms are urgently needed.

With Nigeria’s population exceeding 200 million, some argue that INEC is overburdened with the responsibilities of registering and regulating parties while managing elections at all levels.

To enhance political party administration and electoral processes, establishing a distinct body dedicated to political party registration and regulation is necessary.

This would ensure that registered parties comply with constitutional and legal requirements while INEC focuses solely on conducting elections transparently and efficiently.

The objectives of this bill include “Creating an independent body or authority, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, for the registration and the regulation of the activities and operation of political parties.”

The bill also aims to establish the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal under Clause 35 to resolve conflicts among party members, between parties, and independent candidates.

Additionally, Clauses 41 and 42 outline penalties for political parties and their members, ensuring accountability and transparency within party administration across Nigeria.

Clause 47 proposes amending Sections 75 to 81 of the Electoral Act 2022, effectively removing political party registration from INEC’s responsibilities.

Following a voice vote led by Abbas, members supported the bill, which was then assigned to the Committees on Electoral Matters and Political Party Matters for further consideration.