The House of Representatives has advanced a bill that seeks to transfer the authority of registering, regulating, and funding political parties from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a newly proposed independent body. The bill, which passed its second reading on Thursday, aims to create a more transparent and fair political system in Nigeria.
The bill is co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Marcus Onobun, a lawmaker from Edo State. It proposes the establishment of an Independent Authority responsible for overseeing political parties instead of INEC, which currently manages both elections and political party regulation.
Speaking on the bill, Onobun noted: “INEC should not regulate political parties while also conducting elections. A separate authority will ensure compliance with constitutional requirements and enhance election transparency.”
The proposed law includes several key provisions:
- Creation of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties – This office would handle the registration and supervision of political parties, ensuring that they meet constitutional requirements.
- Formation of a Political Parties Disputes Tribunal – This tribunal would be responsible for resolving internal party conflicts, disputes between political parties, and issues involving independent candidates.
- Introduction of Penalties for Political Parties and Members – Violations of regulations by political parties or their members would attract penalties to promote accountability and fairness.
- Amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 – Sections 75–81 of the Act would be revised to remove political party registration from INEC’s responsibilities.
During the plenary session, Speaker Abbas conducted a voice vote on the bill, and it received strong support from lawmakers. The bill has now been forwarded to the Committees on Electoral Matters and Political Party Matters for further review and deliberation.
