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- The House of Representatives has passed a bill seeking to establish an Independent Authority for the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria ¹.
- The bill aims to transfer political party registration and regulation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a new independent body.
- The proposed authority will ensure compliance with constitutional requirements and enhance election transparency.
The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards reforming Nigeria’s electoral system. The bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Marcus Onobun, seeks to establish an independent authority to oversee political parties, thereby limiting INEC’s control.
Provisions of the Bill:
- Establishment of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties: for political party registration and oversight
- Creation of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal: to resolve intra-party and inter-party disputes, as well as conflicts involving independent candidates
- Penalties for Violations: to ensure transparency and accountability among political parties and their members
- Amendment of the Electoral Act 2022: to remove political party registration from INEC’s functions
The bill received overwhelming support and has been referred to the Committees on Electoral Matters and Political Party Matters for further legislative action.
