From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives, yesterday, took steps to unbundle the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by approving a bill for the registration and regulations of political parties for second reading.
The bill sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and member representing Esan Central/ Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituency, Marcus Onobun, Edo State, seeks to remove the registration and regulations of political parties from INEC.
Onobun, in his lead debate in the titled, “Bill for an act to Provide for Establishment of an Independent Authority for the Registration, Regulation and Funding of Political Parties in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB.1862)”, said it is believed that the electoral umpire is overburdened with the task of registering and regulating political parties, overseeing mergers, while at the same time conducting presidential, gubernatorial and parliamentary elections.
Consequently, the lawmaker argued that it is imperative to establish a separate agency to cater for the registration and regulations of political parties, while INEC is allowed to concentrate on the conduct of elections.
According to him, “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 coalition 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.”
The lawmaker explained that the bill, if passed into law, will create an independent body or authority, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, for the registration and the regulation of the activities and operation of Political parties.
“While clauses 2 to 5 of the Bill make provisions for registration of political parties in accordance with the provisions of the Bill, the Registrar of Political Parties established under clause 29 of this Bill shall oversee the registration of Political Parties, mergers of Political Parties, regulate the funding and the use of political parties’ fund.
“Second, the Bill seeks to establish the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal under clause 35 which shall determine disputes between members of political parties, disputes between a member of a political party and a political party, disputes between political parties, disputes between an independent candidate and a political party, disputes between coalition partners and appeals from the decisions of the Registrars under this Bill.
“Third, the Bill, under clauses 41 and 42 prescribes penalties for offences by political parties and its members and also prescribes punishments for offenders to ensure transparency and accountability in political parties’ administration in Nigeria.”