Abuja — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, have both rejected the controversial bill before the House of Representatives seeking to establish the Political Parties Registration and Regulation Commission (PPRRC).
The bill, co-sponsored by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Marcus Onobun, aims to remove the power of registering and regulating political parties from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and vest it in a newly proposed commission. It is currently under review by the House Committee on Constitution Review and seeks amendments to several sections of the 1999 Constitution.
While the proposal has gained traction among certain political stakeholders and civil society groups, critics have voiced concerns over the timing, intent, and financial implications.
Speaking through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku acknowledged that INEC is overburdened but warned that creating another government agency would be an unnecessary financial strain. He instead recommended strengthening existing institutions like the National Identity Management Commission to take on regulatory roles.
“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,” Atiku said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Obi, through the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Tanko Yunusa, opposed the amendment, insisting that party registration remains a core responsibility of INEC. He referenced the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Report, which recommended the establishment of an Enforcement Commission and Electoral Monitoring Committee—not the stripping of INEC’s foundational duties.
Meanwhile, several political parties and advocacy groups have thrown their weight behind the bill.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) all welcomed the legislation, arguing that unburdening INEC would improve the credibility and efficiency of Nigeria’s elections.
APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said, “By relieving INEC of the powers of registration and deregistration of political parties, you have reduced the burden on them, and you have made it easier for them to concentrate on overseeing election management.”
LP spokesperson, Obiorah Ifoh, said the reform was overdue, accusing INEC of lawlessness under its current leadership. YPP’s Wale Egbeola-Martins described the move as “forward-thinking,” though he stressed the importance of ensuring the new commission remains independent and non-partisan.
Civil society organisation YIAGA Africa also expressed support, with Executive Director Samson Itodo calling it “a welcome development” and urging the commission be operated on a part-time basis to cut costs.
However, Segun Sowunmi, a PDP chieftain, warned that simply creating new laws or institutions without addressing systemic issues will not fix Nigeria’s electoral problems. “We seem to like making laws we won’t obey and creating multiple organisations to do what one can do,” he said.
Efforts to reach the official spokespersons of the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
