A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of an Independent Authority for the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill seeks to establish a dispute tribunal and regulate the funding of political parties as well as utilisation of the funds.

The bill, which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and another lawmaker, Marcus Onobun, further seeks to ensure transparency and a stable democracy.

At the moment, there are 19 registered political parties in Nigeria. The roles to be performed by the new independent authority are currently the responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The independence and neutrality of INEC have been questioned by many including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, who decried the influence of political interference on the appointments of electoral commissioners.

“The electoral commission must be fully independent and we must have credible people. Political leaders who are so domineering and over-pressuring you (INEC staffers) to do what is wrong should resign and leave,” Jonathan said at a Yiaga event recently.

Similarly, Jega said, “There is political interference in the appointment or removal of electoral commissioners and other election officials.”

Bishop Isaac Idahosa, the 2023 Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), also lamented that nobody puts INEC in check.

Meanwhile, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu has been pushing for the creation of an electoral offence tribunal.

“A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals. Furthermore, they are solely prosecuted by the Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed.

“No priority attention is given to such cases as the courts deal with a variety of other cases. Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one General Election to another which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.

“It is therefore imperative to renew our call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal that has a specific jurisdiction and limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases,” he said.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to remain committed to fostering a strong working relationship between the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement released on Monday, NANS President-elect Comrade Oladoja Olushola emphasized the importance of synergy between the two arms of government in delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.

“Leadership is often tested by storms, but true leaders rise above turbulence to achieve remarkable progress,” Olushola said.

The student body expressed concerns over the current political climate in the Senate, warning that it could undermine good governance and disrupt effective collaboration between the legislature and other arms of government.

“As Nigerian students, we will not stand idly by while the integrity of our political institutions is eroded,” Olushola stated.

“We call for calm, restraint, and a renewed commitment to peace-building for national progress and the well-being of all Nigerians.”

While reaffirming its confidence in the leadership of the 10th Senate under Akpabio, NANS stressed the need to uphold accountability and maintain the integrity of the legislative process.

Addressing the ongoing controversy in the Senate, the student body urged all lawmakers to adhere strictly to legislative rules and avoid actions that could destabilize governance.

“It is crucial that we maintain a high standard of accountability to uphold public trust and confidence in our government,” Olushola said.

Given the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the matter, NANS advised all parties involved to exercise caution and refrain from making statements that could inflame tensions.

The association further recommended that disciplinary action be taken against any senator found guilty of misconduct after a court verdict, warning that continued unrest could escalate political tensions and deepen national divisions.

“If these tensions persist, they risk further heating up the political landscape, triggering unintended negative consequences for both the Senate and the country,” Olushola said .

The Defence Headquarters has said the military is working assiduously to free the South East geo-political zone from the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on recent operations of the military on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, the the sit-at-home order in the region still exists because some residents still obey the order out of fear.

He said that the troops of Operation Udoka had been carrying out decisive operations in the region.

“If they give them sit -at-home order, they will tell them go about your normal business, but the locals in some areas, for fear of being attacked or being killed, will stay at home.

“The commanders under that operation are doing their best to ensure that Southeast is free from IPOB/ESN,” he said.

Kangye also urged the public to trust the information released by the military on its activities instead of what was being released by any other group.

According to him, reports emanating from the military reflects the correct situation about counter-terrorism efforts in the country than those from outsiders.

“Something is happening in my house. I am the head of the house, I have children, I have wife and someone else is reporting what is happening in my house to me. Which one would be more correct?

“The one that I will tell you as the head of the house , or the one that the outside is reporting from outside?

“The one I think that will give you the correct information is that of the head of the house.

“So you, as a member of the media, that attends this meeting every week, you should be able to stand and correct what they are giving Nigerians,” he said.

Kangye said he was not going to counter the recent report of the Global Terrorism Index, urging the media to give the correct version of happenings in the country.

He said, “I’m not countering what they put out there, but as observers, I think you should be the better person that will give the correct version of what is happening in Nigeria,” he added. (NAN)