A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ALTER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 1999 CAP C23 LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA 2004, TO ESTABLISH AND EMPOWER THE POLITICAL PARTIES REGISTRATION AND REGULATORY COMMISSION TO REGISTER, REGULATE, AND MONITOR THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES; AND FOR RELATED MATTERS
This Bill seeks to alter sections 40, 81, 84, 153, 222, 225, 226, 228 and the 3rd Schedule of the Constitution to establish the Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission (PPRRC) and empower it to register, regulate and monitor political parties in Nigeria. Hence this reduces the burden on INEC and also allows the PPRRC to focus squarely on regulating the registration, dissolution and regulation of the operation, finances, internal democracy, party primaries and general conduct of Political Parties in Nigeria so as to ensure order, transparency and a level playing field.
Primary Sponsor: Hon. Abubakar Fulata (representing Birniwa/Guri/Kiri-Kasamma Federal Constituency, Jigawa State, under the All Progressives Congress – APC).
CAfPRA’s Position: Support
Benefits
The PPRRC could transform Nigeria’s chaotic party system, where internal crises and financial opacity cost billions and erode democracy. Key advantages:
- Enhanced Electoral Integrity: Dedicated oversight ensures fair primaries and compliance, reducing disputes (e.g., ~40% of 2023 election cases tied to party primaries). Aligns with Electoral Act 2022 goals.
- Reduced Burden on INEC: Frees INEC to focus on elections, improving efficiency (e.g., cutting delays in voter registration, which affected 10 million in 2023). PPRRC could handle ~30,000 annual party-related complaints.
- Financial Transparency: Mandated audits curb illicit funding (e.g., ~N200 billion in untracked campaign funds, 2023), boosting Nigeria’s Corruption Perceptions Index (120/180 in 2024).
- Strengthened Democracy: Enforces internal democracy, reducing godfatherism and factionalism (e.g., APC’s 2022 leadership tussles), fostering public trust and youth participation (only 27% youth turnout in 2023).
Downsides and Potential Risks
Despite its reformist intent, the bill faces challenges in Nigeria’s politically charged landscape, similar to HB. 1512’s devolution hurdles:
- Bureaucratic Overreach: A new commission risks bloat (e.g., ~N1–2 billion annual cost for staff, offices), potentially mirroring inefficiencies in agencies like NECO. Political interference in appointments could undermine independence.
- Resistance from Parties: Major parties (APC, PDP) may oppose stricter regulation, fearing sanctions or loss of control. Smaller parties, already struggling (70% deregistered since 2020), could face barriers.
- Implementation Gaps: Weak enforcement (e.g., if PPRRC lacks prosecutorial powers) could render it symbolic, as seen in INEC’s limited sanctions (only 5% of non-compliant parties penalized in 2023).
- Jurisdictional Conflicts: Overlaps with INEC or state electoral bodies could cause confusion, delaying reforms or sparking legal challenges.
1. Mitigating Bureaucratic Overreach
- Lean Structure: Cap PPRRC membership at 7–9 (like INEC’s model) and use a compact, merit-based appointment process with strict qualifications (e.g., 10+ years in law, governance, or electoral management). This avoids bloat (~N1–2 billion annual cost) and ensures efficiency, unlike oversized agencies like NECO.
- Digital Operations: Implement a cloud-based platform for party registration, financial audits, and compliance tracking, reducing overheads (e.g., by 20–30%) and enabling real-time oversight, similar to Australia’s AEC digital portal.
- Independent Oversight: Subject PPRRC to periodic audits by the Auditor-General (aligned with the financial transparency bill) and a bipartisan National Assembly committee to prevent political capture.
2. Overcoming Resistance from Political Parties
- Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct pre-passage consultations with APC, PDP, and smaller parties via public hearings (Q4 2025) to secure buy-in. Offer incentives like funding transparency guidelines that reduce campaign costs (~N200 billion in 2023), as seen in Kenya’s Political Parties Act.
- Gradual Implementation: Phase in regulations (e.g., financial reporting in year one, primaries oversight in year two) to ease smaller parties’ compliance burden, preventing the 70% deregistration rate seen post-2020.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Partner with civil society (e.g., PLAC) to educate parties and voters on PPRRC’s benefits, using media to counter resistance and build trust (only 27% youth turnout in 2023 reflects distrust).
3. Addressing Implementation Gaps
- Clear Enforcement Powers: Amend the bill to grant PPRRC prosecutorial authority (e.g., fines up to N50 million or deregistration for non-compliance), backed by a legal framework like the Electoral Act 2022. This ensures teeth, unlike INEC’s 5% sanction rate.
- Capacity Building: Allocate ~N500 million from the 2025 budget for training PPRRC staff and party officials, leveraging INEC’s existing infrastructure to avoid duplication. Train 500–1,000 personnel in year one, as Kenya did for its Registrar.
- Performance Metrics: Set measurable targets (e.g., 80% party compliance within two years, 50% reduction in primary disputes), with annual reports to the National Assembly, ensuring accountability.
4. Preventing Jurisdictional Conflicts
- Defined Roles: Include a clause delineating PPRRC’s scope (party regulation) vs. INEC’s (elections) and state electoral commissions’ (local polls), with a joint coordination committee to resolve overlaps, similar to South Africa’s IEC-party regulator model.
- Interoperable Systems: Develop a unified database linking PPRRC with INEC and state bodies for real-time data sharing (e.g., party membership, funding), reducing conflicts and ensuring seamless oversight, as recommended for HB. 1918’s criminal records system.
- Dispute Resolution Mechanism: Establish an arbitration panel (including PPRRC, INEC, and judiciary reps) to handle conflicts within 30 days, preventing legal delays that plagued 2023 election cases.