Nigeria’s House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards creating an independent body to oversee the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties, as a proposed bill passed its second reading.
The draft legislation, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and lawmaker Marcus Onobun, seeks to establish an autonomous authority tasked with managing political party finances and resolving disputes.
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Currently, these functions fall under the purview of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which oversees the country’s 19 registered political parties. However, concerns over INEC’s independence have persisted, with critics, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, warning of undue political influence over its leadership appointments.
If enacted, the bill could mark a shift in Nigeria’s electoral governance, potentially reshaping the nation’s political landscape.
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