A bill aimed at creating an independent authority for the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and lawmaker Marcus Onobun, the bill seeks to set up a dispute tribunal and establish rules for how political parties can receive and use funds. The goal is to promote transparency and strengthen democracy in the country.
Currently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is responsible for registering political parties, but there are concerns about its independence. Many, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, have criticized political interference in the commission’s operations. Jonathan emphasized the need for INEC to be free from political pressure, stating, “The electoral commission must be fully independent, and we must have credible people.”
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Jega echoed these concerns, pointing out that political influence affects the appointment and removal of electoral officials. Bishop Isaac Idahosa, the 2023 Vice Presidential Candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), also noted that there is a lack of oversight for INEC.
In related discussions, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has called for the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal. He highlighted that current processes for handling electoral offences are slow and often delayed due to the busy court system. Yakubu argued that a dedicated tribunal would ensure quicker justice for electoral cases, which are often postponed from one election to the next.
The bill’s progress signals a potential shift in how political parties are managed in Nigeria, aiming for a more independent and transparent system.
