By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA — A controversial bill currently before the House of Representatives seeking to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its powers to register and regulate political parties has sharply divided Nigeria’s political class, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi opposing the move, even as several political stakeholders—including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and civil society groups—express support.
The proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Marcus Onobun (Edo State), aims to establish a Political Parties Registration and Regulation Commission (PPRRC). The body would be solely responsible for registering, regulating, and monitoring political parties’ operations, finances, internal democracy, and conduct—duties currently under INEC’s purview.
The bill, undergoing consideration by the House Committee on Constitution Review, seeks to amend key sections of the 1999 Constitution—Sections 40, 81, 84, 153, 222, 225, 226, 228, and the Third Schedule.
Atiku: Creating Another Commission Is Wasteful
Speaking through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku acknowledged that INEC is overburdened but argued that the solution is not to establish yet another public institution amidst Nigeria’s worsening fiscal crisis.
“INEC is biting more than it can chew. Some of the tasks it is saddled with give room for distraction. But the answer is not to create another costly commission. Existing agencies, such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), can be strengthened to handle aspects of party regulation,” Atiku said.
He warned that duplicating institutional functions will only deepen administrative inefficiency and called for a leaner, more focused electoral body.
Peter Obi’s Camp: Focus on Electoral Enforcement, Not Party Regulation
Echoing Atiku’s concerns, the Obidient Movement’s National Coordinator, Tanko Yunusa, speaking on behalf of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, called the bill misdirected.
“INEC’s role in party registration is a constitutional duty. Stripping it of this responsibility contradicts the spirit of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Report, which proposed an Electoral Offences Commission, not a duplication of INEC’s functions,” Yunusa argued.
He added that reform efforts should focus on building institutions that punish electoral fraud, not dismantling critical components of INEC’s mandate.
PDP chieftain, Segun Sowunmi, delivered a broader critique of Nigeria’s reform culture:
“We keep creating laws and agencies we won’t respect. The problem isn’t legislation or institutions—it’s a national attitude that resists accountability. INEC’s failings aren’t because of its structure, but because we refuse to let institutions function independently.”
Supporters: INEC Is Overloaded and Ineffective
On the other side of the aisle, proponents of the bill argue that INEC has grown too unwieldy and distracted to effectively conduct credible elections.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the bill represents an important step toward democratic efficiency:
“By removing the responsibility of registering political parties from INEC, we streamline its focus. INEC can concentrate on its core duty—conducting elections—while the PPRRC ensures that parties are compliant, transparent, and law-abiding.”
Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, also backed the proposal, saying it would help “unbundle” what he described as a bloated and unaccountable INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
“INEC has become lawless and arrogant. Creating a dedicated party commission would clean up the electoral process and restore order.”
Civil Society Weighs In: Welcome Reform, But Keep Costs Down
From the civil society front, YIAGA Africa’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, described the bill as “long overdue,” saying INEC must be liberated from political distractions:
“This proposal aligns with the Justice Uwais Report and is a step in the right direction. However, we advocate for a part-time structure for the new commission to reduce costs and ensure it doesn’t become another bureaucratic burden.”
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) also supported the initiative, stating that it reflects long-standing recommendations for electoral unbundling. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) echoed similar sentiments, calling the move a “bold step toward institutional focus.”
YPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Wale Egbeola-Martins, emphasized that:
“INEC has suffered from task overload. A dedicated commission will resolve administrative bottlenecks. But its independence, neutrality, and legal framework must be airtight.”
Attempts to reach the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) were unsuccessful, as their spokespersons, Debo Ologunagba and Bolaji Abdullahi, did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.
As Nigeria inches closer to another election cycle, the debate over the structure of INEC and the architecture of its electoral system takes on renewed urgency. While critics view the new bill as an expensive duplication of effort, its supporters say it’s a practical step toward strengthening democratic institutions.
Whether the Political Parties Registration and Regulation Commission becomes law or not, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s political and civil society actors are increasingly united on one front—the urgent need to reform and modernize the country’s electoral framework.