Daud Olatunji
The House of Representatives has advanced a bill that seeks to establish an independent authority responsible for the registration and regulation of political parties, effectively stripping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of these crucial functions.
Sponsored by Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, and Marcus Onobun, a distinguished lawmaker from Edo State, the bill proposes the creation of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
This new entity would oversee the intricate processes of political party registration, funding monitoring, and regulatory enforcement.
During the heated debate that ensued during Thursday’s plenary session, Hon. Marcus Onobun argued passionately for the necessity of this legislative overhaul.
He emphasized that such a measure is essential to enhancing transparency and credibility within Nigeria’s electoral system, which he believes has been marred by irregularities stemming from INEC’s overstretched responsibilities.
“In a country of over 200 million people, INEC is burdened with the onerous task of registering political parties, regulating their activities, overseeing coalitions and mergers, all while conducting national elections,” stated Hon. Onobun.
“This bill proposes a dedicated authority solely focused on ensuring political parties comply with constitutional and statutory requirements, thereby allowing INEC to concentrate on its primary mandate of conducting free, fair, and transparent elections.”
Central to the bill is the establishment of a Political Party Disputes Tribunal, aimed at resolving internal conflicts among party members swiftly.
Additionally, stringent penalties are envisaged for non-compliance with regulatory standards, revealing the bill’s commitment to accountability and adherence to electoral laws.
“The credibility and stability of any democracy hinge upon effective regulation of political parties,” Hon. Onobun affirmed. “To foster a transparent and robust democracy, we must ensure that political parties and their members operate within the bounds of the law. The time to act decisively is now if we are to safeguard the integrity of our democratic process.”
In a show of overwhelming support, the bill received unanimous adoption following a voice vote presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
The proposed legislation represents a significant legislative effort aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s electoral process by creating a dedicated authority for political party registration and regulation, thereby relieving INEC of these responsibilities.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that advocates argue this move will streamline electoral operations and foster greater transparency in Nigeria’s democracy.
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