2027 Elections: Atiku, Obi Reject Controversial Party Registration Bill
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the House of Representatives’ bill seeking the establishment of the Political Parties Registration and Regulation Commission (PPRRC), which aims to register, regulate, and monitor the organisation and operation of political parties in Nigeria.
Although Atiku lauded the idea of stripping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the powers to register and regulate political parties, he cautioned against the financial burden of creating a new public institution amidst the country’s economic challenges.
The bill was co-sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Marcus Onobun, representing Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State.
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. It proposes the establishment of the PPRRC to register, regulate and monitor political parties.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the commission will “reduce the burden on INEC and allow the PPRRC to focus squarely on regulating, registration, dissolution, and monitoring of operations, finances, internal democracy, primaries, and general conduct of political parties to ensure order, transparency, and a level playing field.”
Atiku, speaking through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, said INEC currently handles too many responsibilities, which has affected its ability to deliver credible elections. He argued that instead of establishing a new body, existing institutions like the National Identity Management Commission could be empowered to handle the tasks.
“Nigeria needs a well-structured INEC that is efficient in service delivery. We don’t need to establish another commission to replicate functions that can be performed by already existing institutions,” he stated.
Also rejecting the bill, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, through the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Tanko Yunusa, said that party registration remains a core responsibility of INEC.
Yunusa said the Justice Muhammed Uwais report had recommended the creation of an Electoral Monitoring Committee, an Enforcement Commission, and a Delineation Commission, rather than stripping INEC entirely of its regulatory role over political parties.
“You cannot strip INEC completely of the powers to register and regulate political parties; that is one of its primary roles,” he stressed.
Segun Sowunmi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), added that the issue with Nigeria’s electoral process is not the absence of laws or institutions, but a lack of will to follow through.
“From our experience, we seem to like making laws we won’t obey and creating multiple organisations to do what one can do, without accepting that we, the people, are the challenge,” he said.
In contrast, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), through its Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described the move as timely. He said the amendment would simplify party registration and dissolution processes and allow INEC to focus on election management.
“When you subject party registration to very complex procedures and you give that responsibility to an overburdened commission, you complicate the issues,” he noted.
The Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, also expressed support for unbundling INEC, citing a need to clean up the commission’s operations and restore credibility.
“Under Prof Mahmood Yakubu, INEC has become so lawless and larger than life… Any amendment to the Constitution to excise some of INEC’s powers will help our democracy,” Ifoh stated.
The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement in Africa (YIAGA Africa), via its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, also backed the proposal. He recommended that the new commission operate on a part-time basis to minimise costs.
“This proposal aligns with the late Justice Uwais’ recommendations and will free the commission from political pressures and controversies,” he said.
Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) expressed its support, describing the legislation as consistent with long-standing electoral reform proposals.
“The creation of the PPRRC would allow INEC to concentrate on conducting elections more effectively, in line with international best practices for electoral management bodies,” the group said.
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) also welcomed the bill. Its National Publicity Secretary, Wale Egbeola-Martins, called the move a “forward-thinking step” toward strengthening democratic institutions.
He emphasised the importance of ensuring the new commission’s independence and credibility, saying, “Its legal framework must be watertight, and its leadership should be composed of credible, non-partisan individuals with proven integrity.”
Efforts to reach the spokespersons of the Peoples Democratic Party (Debo Ologunagba) and the African Democratic Congress (Bolaji Abdullahi) for comment were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to calls or messages.