Political Party Bill ‘ll improve party management – Yiaga Africa

The Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, says the Political Party Bill currently before the National Assembly is key to improve party management in Nigeria.

Itodo stated this at a technical workshop on the bill in Abuja, organised by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) for House Committee on Political Party Matters.

The workshop was organised in collaboration with the YIAGA Africa and the Kukah Centre.

It was reported that the Bill is seeking for an Act to provide for the establishment of an independent authority for the registration, regulation and funding of political parties in Nigeria and related matters.

The bill presently before the House Committee on Political Party Matters was sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

Itodo said that across the world, political parties constitute critical democratic institutions in any democracy, adding that no democracy could flourish without strong, viral political parties, but lamented that in Nigeria, party system was weak.

According to him, some argue that most of our political parties do not have ideology. Some have also argued that Nigeria political parties are led by the moneybags.

”That it’s about the highest bidder and that our parties are so weak that they are built around individuals, not around institutions, hence they are easily captured as is being experienced in different parts of the country.”

Itodo noted that evidence showed that citizens do not trust political parties in Nigeria, as their interests at times were at variance with the interests of the people.

He said that there had been situations where competent people who have the heart of service did not make it to the National Assembly, because someone within their parties did not like their faces.

”Our parties should be a platform for debates and discussions about the common good and to deliver on good governance, not for accumulating political power to oppress citizens,” he said.

The YIAGA Africa executive director added that the ongoing discussions on the gale of defection among Nigerian politicians were a signal that something was wrong with the nation’s party system.

He said that the bill would not only allow Nigeria to get her parties right, it would also impact on other African countries positively.

”It is important that we consider the progressive parts of this bill. The bill itself may not be perfect, but desirably, it will reform our party system,’’ he said.

The Executive Director, The Kukah Centre, Fr Atta Barkindo, said that the bill offered a timely opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen her parties internal democracy, promote accountability, and institutionalise reforms that were long overdue.

Barkindo, represented by Programme Manager, Ezrom Ajanya, said that the bill would also help to make meaningful contributions that would further enhance the viability of political party management in Nigeria.

He said that the workshop provided the platform to identify gaps in the bill.

He urged the participants of the workshop to be open minded and constructively engage on critical issues that would strengthen Nigeria democracy.

”Let us work towards proposals that uphold constitutional values and reflect our nation’s political realities.

”Strengthening political parties is not just a legislative exercise, it is an investment in the credibility of our democracy, the empowerment of our people and the stability of Nigeria,” he said.

The National Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, commended the organisers of the workshop, saying it would give stakeholders an opportunity to evaluate the bill, ensure it aligned with democratic ideals and expectation of Nigerians.

Dantalle, however, noted that the bill was yet to be uploaded online to enable citizens have an in-depth understanding of its details for evaluation.

He said that meaningful discussion would only take place if stakeholders have access to the bill.

He promised that IPAC would soon convene its General Assembly meeting to discuss the bill and take a position on it which would be public.