The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has hinted that new political parties would be registered ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by its National Commissioner and chairman (Outreach and Partnership Committee), Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, said this in Abuja at the weekend during the annual summit of political parties and stakeholders with the theme: “Political parties and democratic stability in Nigeria: Setting agenda for 2023 general elections.”
Also, ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Commission expressed concern over the way political parties conduct themselves, saying there should be improvement.
Among those gaps included the lack of internal party democracy, inclusivity, marginalisation of women and Persons Living With Disabilities and the youths.
While expressing optimism that it would register more parties before the next general election, the commission stated that it was anticipating that the challenges in the country would not be a threat to the 2023 election.
Ogunmola said, “I think this kind of summit is important in the sense we had appraised the political situation in the country with the way the political parties play their roles and we found some gaps that we need to fill and that is the purpose of this type of summit, so that what they are able to gain from here, the capitalise it and improve the polity.
“Well, there is nothing in our books that says we should not continue to register political parties provided they meet the requirements. So as many associations that are desirous of getting registered, INEC will be prepared to register them except they fail to meet the requirements.
“Our trust is in God, we have had similar situations in the past and we have been able to overcome and we do hope that this time around, the 2023 election will be far better than previous elections.”
