By Gwurld4026 
INEC’s Party Registration Authority Faces Legislative Challenge
The Nigerian House of Representatives has advanced a bill proposing the transfer of political party registration and regulation responsibilities from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a newly established independent agency. This bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Edo State lawmaker Marcus Onobun, successfully passed its second reading on Thursday.
During the plenary session, Onobun argued that INEC’s extensive duties, which include organizing presidential, national assembly, gubernatorial, and state assembly elections, have overextended the commission. He suggested that delegating the tasks of registering and regulating political parties to a separate body would enhance the efficiency and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The proposed legislation aims to establish the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, an independent entity responsible for overseeing party registration, monitoring funding, and enforcing regulations. Additionally, the bill seeks to create a Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to resolve conflicts among party members, independent candidates, and coalition partners.
Lawmakers have expressed broad support for the initiative, emphasizing the need for a more focused approach to election management. The bill has been referred to the Committees on Electoral Matters and Political Party Matters for further review and potential amendments.