INEC Reveals Why It Can’t Reduce Numbers Of Registered Political Parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission, during a post-election review meeting on Monday, noted that it lacked the constitutional power to de-register any of the 91 political parties in Nigeria.

Mr Muhammed Haruna, the INEC Federal Commissioner in charge of Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States, stated this in Lokoja, on Monday.

Haruna stated that the call for a reduction in the number of registered parties by Nigerians could only be done through an amendment of the Constitution.

He agreed that the provisions in the 1999 Constitution which state that parties must be national in outlook and have headquarters in Abuja had led to unexpected problems, but explained that INEC was helpless.

Haruna, call for agreement among stakeholders to resolve the issue, explaining that constitutional amendment was the only way out.

The commission further revealed that logistics is the major challenge the INEC encountered in the process of conducting the last general elections, he stated that the electoral body will work on the issue.