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The Senate may amend the Electoral Act today to reduce the number of political parties from 50 to two.
The Senate may amend the Electoral Act today to reduce the number of political parties from 50 to two.
The idea is to allow the existence of only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and another party, as contained in a Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act 2006 (Amendment) Bill 2007.
Senate Environment and Ecology Committee Chairman, Victor Kassim Oyofo, is the sponsor of the Bill, which is already listed on the Order Paper for the Second Reading.
The initial proposal was to reduce the number of parties from 50 to three, which would see smaller parties merging with the PDP, and other smaller, weaker parties coming together to form the opposition.
A source explained that the plethora of parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was only for pecuniary gains.
He noted that regardless of the Supreme Court ruling on the registration of parties, the Senate "is duty bound to prune down the sheer number of political parties that have mushroomed all over the place.
"We will ask for a pruning of political parties to two; whichever way it can be done. One, the PDP and the rest of the other political parties should merge into a party in order to enhance the course of democracy.
"The sheer number has failed. It leads to balkanisation of people distributing themselves into unviable political parties, many who have questionable motives for setting up a political party. They set up a political party because they know that there is some allowance to collect from the INEC."
He argued that reducing the number of parties would not affect the freedom of association enshrined in the Constitution.
"It's right in making decisions for the freedom of association which is a fundamental law. But here, we are talking about guided association in order to maximise opportunities.
"This is best done when you have freedom for effective articulation. So, I believe the Supreme Court will rule that this is a worthwhile goal which isn't denying anyone the freedom of association but which we hope would guarantee effective association."
Also on Tuesday, senators barred themselves from serving as board members of the Nigeria National Commission (NATCOM) for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO.
But they unanimously approved the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service, headed by Felix Ibru, which recommended that the NATCOM should act in an advisory capacity to delegations to the UNESCO general conference, the executive board, and their respective governments relating to the UNESCO.
Senate President, Ken Nnamani, reasoned that since "the Senate would undertake oversight functions on the Commission, and that since senators would approve its appropriation, since it would be under the Senate's supervision, there is no need for senators to serve on the Commission."
Ibru disclosed that the "main objective of the NATCOM is to gainfully involve the various ministerial departments, agencies, institutions, organisations, and individuals working for the advancement of education, the sciences, culture, and information in the programmes of the UNESCO."
With the NATCOM in place, he argued, the federal and state governments would be properly advised and guided in their relationships with the UNESCO, to assist them in taking informed positions on important issues discussed at any organs of the UNESCO.
The NATCOM would also provide "effective liaison on UNESCO matters between federal and state ministries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and bodies, as well as other national commissions and organisations involved in work within the UNESCO's field of compliance," he added.
The NATCOM was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) 46 years ago.
The Senate named Emmanuel Agboti as Chairman of the Joint Committee probing how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) spent the N17 billion budgeted for it to conduct the elections last month.
The report is expected next Wednesday.
Nnamani explained why the Selection Committee chose Agboti: "We looked at all the members of the Appropriation Committee and found out that almost all of them are accountants, and most of them would be busy at the tribunal. That is why Agboti was named Chairman."