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The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Oluwole Oke, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intensify its regulatory oversight of political parties in Nigeria, citing the urgent need to safeguard democratic integrity and prevent the abuse of the electoral system.
In a detailed policy statement issued from the National Assembly in Abuja, Hon. Oluwole Oke emphasized that while INEC’s role as an election management body is widely recognized, its lesser-known statutory responsibility as the regulator and registrar of political parties is equally critical to the sustainability of Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to Hon. Oluwole Oke, Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides INEC with clear authority to deregister political parties that violate registration conditions, fail to secure meaningful electoral representation, or abstain entirely from participating in elections.
He expressed concern over the growing trend of inactive political parties exploiting loopholes in the system.
“Some political parties do not participate meaningfully in elections, have no functional structures, and yet become active post-election only to file petitions against legitimate winners many times just to negotiate monetary settlements out of court,” Oke lamented.
“This practice has become an enterprise of political opportunism, eroding public trust in the electoral process.”
Rising Concerns Over Electoral Abuse
Hon. Oluwole Oke noted that many of these parties fail to secure even a ward-level victory during local elections, yet flood the courts with frivolous petitions after major contests.
This, he warned, not only clogs Nigeria’s overburdened judicial system but also introduces unnecessary legal uncertainty in an already tense post-election atmosphere.
He added that the proliferation of parties with no electoral relevance also leads to logistical and financial waste.
“Ballot papers are cluttered with logos of unknown and inactive parties, confusing voters both literate and non-literate and leading to accidental mis-voting,” he explained.
“This is a direct threat to electoral credibility.”
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INEC’s resources, Oke argued, are being stretched thin in trying to accommodate parties that contribute nothing to democratic development. “It is taxpayers who ultimately bear the cost,” he said. “Nigeria cannot afford to fund political entities that exist only on paper or for legal theatrics.”
Recommendations for Reform
To address these systemic challenges, Hon. Oke made the following key recommendations:
Annual Compliance Audits: INEC should institutionalize an annual viability audit of all registered parties to ensure ongoing compliance with constitutional requirements.
Strict Enforcement of Deregistration: INEC must decisively deregister non-compliant parties as empowered by the Constitution.
Electoral Act Amendment: The National Assembly should amend the Electoral Act to bar political parties that did not participate in a given election from filing petitions related to that election.
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Expanded Monitoring: Civil society organizations and electoral observers should extend their oversight to the activities and structure of political parties, not just election-day conduct.
Public Education: Voter education campaigns must be enhanced to better inform citizens about the status, credibility, and legal obligations of political parties.
Upholding Democratic Values
While reaffirming the right to political association as a cornerstone of democracy, Hon. Oke stressed that such freedoms must be exercised within the limits of the law and in service of the public good.
“Political parties should not be instruments for personal gain or legal mischief,” he stated. “They must represent the people, reflect democratic values, and adhere to the rule of law. INEC must rise to the occasion and protect our democracy from being hijacked by those with no genuine interest in governance or representation.”
With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, Hon. Oke’s call is seen as timely, signaling a broader push within the National Assembly to reform Nigeria’s political party landscape and reinforce public confidence in the democratic process.
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