INEC won’t fund political parties -Official

    
The Independent National Electoral Commission is seeking laws guiding defection of politicians and the powers to enforce internal democracy in the nomination and substitution of candidates by political parties.

The National Commissioner in charge of Election Party Monitoring, Hajiya Amina Zakari, proposed this on Tuesday at the opening of the National Stakeholders Forum on Electoral Reform in Abuja.

She also insisted that INEC won’t fund political parties for elections.

No fewer than five governors and 37 House of Representatives defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, recently. This led to a tilt in majority in favour of the opposition party.

Following this, the PDP filed a suit seeking the court to declare the seats of the lawmakers vacant.

Expressing worries about lack of internal democracy in political parties, Zakari identified the need for INEC to wield enforcement powers to ensure adherence with democratic norms in the nomination and substitution of candidates.

“There is also need for clear/strict conditions for cross carpeting by elected officials between political parties,” she said.

She also identified the need to extend time for processing application for registration of new political parties from 30 to 60 days; extension of time for the conduct of run-off election from seven to a minimum of 21 days for adequate preparation, and extension of time for bye-elections after notice of death and/or resignation is issued by the relevant authority.

The two-day forum chaired by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, was organized for political parties, Civil Society Organizations and INEC to dialogue on the electoral process.

The sponsors are the United States Agency for International Development, INEC, the International Republican Institute, Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Developemnt, the International Foundation for Electoral System and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation.

The Chairman, Inter party Advisory Council, Dr. Yunusa Tanko at the event canvassed for proper funding of political parties.

The Special Advisor to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, also said financing of parties should be legally structured to reduce godfatherism.

Rejecting requests to fund political parties for election, Zakari in an interview with our correspondent said the commission won’t fund political parties if the laws guiding its operation were not amended.

She said, “Unless they (political parties) get the laws changed to allow for funding, INEC can’t fund political parties. Everything that has to do with political parties has to do with the law. Once we get the reforms and if the National Assembly in its wisdom returns funding into the law, INEC has no option.”

Zakari also debunked insinuations that INEC was wrong to have consulted political parties before releasing time table for Osun and Ekiti governorship elections.

According to her, INEC under the law has sole power to set the election time table without contributions from external bodies.

In his speech, Obi stressed the need for adequate financing and promotion of ideology in political parties.

This, he said, “would bring in people of the same inclination and inject many loyal, honest and nation loving Nigerians who are not that financially buoyant to compete as opposed to the present situation where money in most cases determines parties political patronage.”

Obi lamented that perceived electoral flaws had led to wanton killings and destruction of public and private properties.

He called for the streamlining of the role of the security agencies, transparent voter registration and establishment of media code as well as enthroning party internal democracy and grievance procedure.

In her speech, the US Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Maria Brewer said the forum was a testament to her country’s commitment to work with Nigeria to achieve credible elections in 2015.

She, however, said the choice was for Nigeria to make, adding that the US would support efforts to promote good governance.

“Our goal is to help facilitate dialogue among Nigerian stakeholders so that they can establish a mutually agreed upon foundation for implementing meaningful reforms.

“The US is committed to its role as an engaged friend and partner of Nigeria. But it is up to Nigeria to ensure elections are credible. We hope that this stakeholder forum will build consensus on urgently needed legal and administrative electoral reforms to make the 2015 elections a model for genuine improvement in the electoral framework.

“Your actions today could serve as the foundation for the movement away from personality-driven politics and toward the development of lasting political institutions in Nigeria,” Brewer added.