Nigeria’s House of Representatives has advanced a bill seeking to strip INEC of its role in registering and regulating political parties. The proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, aims to establish an independent agency for party oversight, allowing INEC to focus solely on conducting elections and improving transparency.
The House of Representatives has moved forward with a bill that seeks to transfer the registration and regulation of political parties from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a newly proposed independent body. The bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Edo lawmaker Marcus Onobun, successfully passed its second reading on Thursday.
During the plenary session, Onobun argued that INEC is overstretched with its responsibilities, particularly as concerns over election transparency continue to rise. He noted that the electoral body has been frequently blamed for irregularities, and a structural reform is necessary to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
“The demand for electoral transparency has intensified, with an increasing number of disputes arising from elections. Many Nigerians believe INEC’s broad mandate affects its efficiency,” Onobun stated.
The proposed legislation aims to establish the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, an independent agency tasked with handling party registration, regulation, and funding. Additionally, a Political Parties Disputes Tribunal would be created to manage conflicts between party members, independent candidates, and coalition partners.
The bill also seeks to amend sections of the Electoral Act 2022, removing INEC’s role in registering political parties. Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the proposal, which has now been referred to the Committees on Electoral Matters and Political Party Matters for further review.
If passed, the law could significantly reshape Nigeria’s electoral landscape by allowing INEC to focus solely on election management while a dedicated body oversees political parties' operations.
