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Tayo Busayo, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - A major shake-up in Nigeria’s electoral system is underway as the House of Representatives moves to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its power to register and regulate political parties. At the same time, INEC has warned political parties participating in the 2025 Anambra governorship election to adhere strictly to their primary election schedules to avoid logistical disruptions.
In a bill co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Marcus Onobun from Edo State, the House passed for second reading a proposal to establish an Independent Authority for Political Party Regulation. If passed into law, this body will take over the registration, oversight, and funding of political parties, functions currently under INEC’s purview.
Onobun, while defending the bill, argued that separating INEC’s election management role from political party regulation would enhance transparency, compliance, and accountability. He noted that INEC should not regulate political parties while also conducting elections, emphasizing that a separate authority would ensure compliance with constitutional requirements and improve electoral integrity.
The proposed bill includes the establishment of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to oversee party registration and compliance. It also proposes the creation of a Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to handle intra-party and inter-party conflicts, including those involving independent candidates. In addition, it introduces penalties for political parties that violate electoral laws and seeks to amend Sections 75–81 of the Electoral Act 2022 to remove party registration from INEC’s responsibilities.
The bill received overwhelming support when subjected to a voice vote by Speaker Abbas and has been referred to the Committees on Electoral Matters and Political Party Matters for further legislative consideration.
While the House debates INEC’s regulatory role, the commission itself has issued a stern warning to political parties participating in the 2025 Anambra governorship election to strictly follow their scheduled timelines for primary elections.
In a press statement released on Thursday, March 6, 2025, by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission reminded parties that primary elections must be conducted between March 20 and April 10, 2025.
So far, 12 out of the 19 registered parties have submitted their primary election schedules, but seven have yet to comply. INEC urged these parties to submit their schedules immediately to enable proper monitoring and planning. The commission emphasized that frequent and unplanned changes to primary election dates, venues, or modes disrupt its logistical planning and increase the cost of monitoring elections.
In its statement, INEC reminded political parties that, as agreed in the last consultative meeting held in January, early submission of schedules would enable the commission to plan for the effective monitoring of the primaries in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.
With the November 8, 2025, governorship election approaching, INEC insists that adherence to schedules is crucial for electoral credibility and that last-minute adjustments could lead to logistical and legal complications.
As political parties navigate these developments, all eyes will be on both the House of Representatives and INEC. While lawmakers push to redefine INEC’s regulatory powers, the commission remains focused on ensuring a smooth and transparent election process in Anambra State. The coming weeks will determine whether the bill progresses into law and how political parties adjust to INEC’s directives ahead of the governorship election.
