Reps Pass Bill To Strip INEC Of Powers To Regulate Parties

The House of Representatives has passed through second reading a bill that seeks to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of its powers to register and regulate political parties in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by the Speaker, Dr. Abbas Tajudeen and Marcus Onobun, aims to establish an independent authority, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, to oversee the registration and regulation of political parties.

According to the Co-sponsor Marcus Onobun, the bill also proposes the establishment of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to resolve disputes between political parties, their members, and independent candidates.

However, a member representing Ahoada-East/Abua/Odua Federal Constituency of Rivers State Solomon Bob, raised concerns that the bill duplicates INEC’s functions, as most of its proposals are already captured in the constitution and the electoral Act.

Despite these concerns, the speaker assured that they will be addressed during the public hearing on the bill.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji