A bill seeking to establish an independent authority for the registration and regulation of political parties scaled second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill is sponsored by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, and Marcus Onobun, a lawmaker from Edo State.
The proposed legislation aims to remove political party registration and regulation from the jurisdiction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and transfer them to a new agency.
Leading the debate during plenary on Thursday, Onobun said the proposed legislation will ensure transparency in the electoral process.
He suggested that INEC, which is responsible for organising polls across the country, was overstretched and should focus solely on conducting elections.
“All stakeholders in the electoral process are adamant about 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 said.
“People believe that election integrity depends on a free, fair, impartial, and transparent process for registering political parties and conducting elections.
“Many citizens have rightly or wrongly blamed the election umpire in Nigeria, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), for election irregularities.
“Irrespective of the divide one may find himself, what is indisputable is the fact that our electoral process needs a surgical operation.
“In a country of over 200 million people, it is suggested that INEC is overwhelmed with the onerous task of registering political parties, regulating political parties, overseeing coalitions and mergers while also conducting the presidential, national assembly, governorship, and state houses of assembly elections.
“Therefore, to improve on our electoral process and the management of political parties, it is desirous that we have a different authority that will be responsible for the registration and regulation of political parties activities and also to ensure that registered political parties comply with constitutional and other statutory requirements while INEC concentrates on its primary assignment of conducting elections to ensure a more proficient, seamless, and transparent democratic process in Nigeria.”
Under the proposed law, a new body, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, would be created to oversee political party registration, monitor funding, and enforce regulations.
The proposed legislation intends to also establish a political party disputes tribunal to resolve conflicts among members.
The bill includes provisions for penalties against political parties and their members to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
“The credibility, health, and wellbeing of every democracy are hinged on the effective regulation of the political parties.
“Therefore, to ensure a transparent and stable democracy, it cannot be business as usual for political parties and key actors where anything goes. It is my prayer to you, my honorable colleagues, to support and pass this bill. If we must save our democracy, the time to act is now.” the lawmaker said.
The bill was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Abbas, who presided over the plenary.
