2027 elections: Atiku, Obi reject controversial party registration bill

Obi and Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the House of Representatives’ bill seeking the establishment of the Political Parties Registration and Regulation Commission, which aims to register, regulate, and monitor the organisation and operation of political parties in Nigeria.

Although the ex-Vice President lauded the initiative to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission of the powers to register and regulate the activities of political parties, he warned of the financial implications of creating another public institution, given the economic realities of the time.

The bill was co-sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and the member representing Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency, Edo State, Mr Marcus Onobun.

Findings by The PUNCH revealed that the bill currently before the House Committee on Constitution Review, seeks to alter Sections 40, 81, 84,153, 222, 225, 226, 228 and the Third Schedule of the Constitution to establish the Political Parties Registration and Regulation Commission and empower it to register, regulate and monitor political parties in the country.

According to the explanatory memorandum, this will “Reduce the burden on INEC and also allows the PPRRC to focus squarely on regulating and registration, dissolution and monitoring of the operation, finances, internal democracy, primaries and general conduct of political parties in Nigeria to ensure order, transparency and a level playing field.”

Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH on Tuesday, Atiku noted that INEC, as currently constituted, is saddled with too many responsibilities, so much that its capacity to deliver on the primary mandate of conducting free, credible and transparent elections has been called into question in the past few years.

The former Vice President, who spoke through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, said, “INEC is biting more than it can chew. Some of the tasks it is saddled with give room for a lot of distraction. As good as it is to relieve the umpire of these tasks, the way to go is not to establish another commission. Instead of creating another commission, agencies like the National Identity Management Commission can be empowered to register and monitor the activities of political parties.”