We don’t need more than five political Parties – Festus Okoye

Politicians See Party Certificates As
Trophies

Constitutional lawyer, and member of the defunct Justice
Uwais Electoral Panel, Festus Okoye, told SAXONE AKHAINE, that the
country does not need more than five political parties. He
therefore wants the constitution tightened in order to stem the
tide of agitations for the registration of new political
parties.

Some Nigerians are clamouring for registration of more
political parties. Is this proliferation in the nation’s
interest?
As at today, Nigeria has a total of 45 political parties, and 104
political associations have applied to be registered as political
parties. Fundamentally, most of the political parties have the same
ideological platform and content with different degrees of emphasis
on issues. It is my considered view that Nigeria does not need more
than five political parties. Presently, only about five political
parties have any form of representation in the states’ and National
Assembly and the same thing applies to the local councils across
the federation, and at area councils in the Federal Capital
Territory. Political parties must have ideological content, as well
as, deferential brand content. Nigerians are not agitating for
additional political parties, but are rather agitating that the
proliferation of political parties should be halted.

It does appear conditions needed by political
associations to be registered, as political parties are not
stringent hence the long list?
Let me say again, Nigeria does not need 45 political parties and
104 political associations that have applied for registration. The
framers of the Nigerian constitution made provisions for national
political parties with governing council representation in at least
two thirds of all states of the federation. Unfortunately, the
condition for the registration of political parties is too lax and
these accounts for the obscene proliferation of associations that
want to transmute to political parties. The only hard condition for
registration of political parties is that the association must have
an office in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The other
conditions for registration involve paper work and this can be done
and fulfilled by a few individuals.

Are there no advantages of proliferation of political
parties, especially in the light of the freedom of association
granted all by the constitution?
Too many parties on the ballot disembowel the opposition from
organising and bidding for political power. The proliferation of
parties works to the advantage of the incumbent government. In
fact, proliferation of parties sometimes becomes very confusing and
the ordinary people find it difficult to distinguish and
differentiate the logo of political parties. Proliferation of
political parties creates the challenge of ballot design for the
electoral management body, and does not add value to the electoral
system in the country. I believe that so many existing political
parties can find ideological accommodation in the existing
political parties, making it possible for Nigeria not to have more
than five political parties. Unfortunately, some politicians hold
party certificates as a trophy and do multiple registrations of
parties for the rainy day.

How can the political environment be sanitised, so that
real parties can play real politics?
I believe that the National Assembly should alter the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended) to
tighten the condition for the registration of political parties. I
believe that a party that wants to bid for power must have
verifiable and functional offices in at least half of the states of
the federation. The framers of the constitution did not envisage
and, or make provision for regional parties or local parties. There
is also no room in the constitution for portfolio parties. It is
imperative for them to subject themselves to party discipline. The
parties must also be run professionally and ethically. This demands
that governors and elected public officials must allow the party
bureaucracy to work and guide the actions of those in government.
The parties must seek to generate funds of their own and keep a
comprehensive and scientific database of their members.

The Guardian

Politicians See Party Certificates As
Trophies

Constitutional lawyer, and member of the defunct Justice
Uwais Electoral Panel, Festus Okoye, told SAXONE AKHAINE, that the
country does not need more than five political parties. He
therefore wants the constitution tightened in order to stem the
tide of agitations for the registration of new political
parties.

Some Nigerians are clamouring for registration of more
political parties. Is this proliferation in the nation’s
interest?
As at today, Nigeria has a total of 45 political parties, and 104
political associations have applied to be registered as political
parties. Fundamentally, most of the political parties have the same
ideological platform and content with different degrees of emphasis
on issues. It is my considered view that Nigeria does not need more
than five political parties. Presently, only about five political
parties have any form of representation in the states’ and National
Assembly and the same thing applies to the local councils across
the federation, and at area councils in the Federal Capital
Territory. Political parties must have ideological content, as well
as, deferential brand content. Nigerians are not agitating for
additional political parties, but are rather agitating that the
proliferation of political parties should be halted.

It does appear conditions needed by political
associations to be registered, as political parties are not
stringent hence the long list?
Let me say again, Nigeria does not need 45 political parties and
104 political associations that have applied for registration. The
framers of the Nigerian constitution made provisions for national
political parties with governing council representation in at least
two thirds of all states of the federation. Unfortunately, the
condition for the registration of political parties is too lax and
these accounts for the obscene proliferation of associations that
want to transmute to political parties. The only hard condition for
registration of political parties is that the association must have
an office in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The other
conditions for registration involve paper work and this can be done
and fulfilled by a few individuals.

Are there no advantages of proliferation of political
parties, especially in the light of the freedom of association
granted all by the constitution?
Too many parties on the ballot disembowel the opposition from
organising and bidding for political power. The proliferation of
parties works to the advantage of the incumbent government. In
fact, proliferation of parties sometimes becomes very confusing and
the ordinary people find it difficult to distinguish and
differentiate the logo of political parties. Proliferation of
political parties creates the challenge of ballot design for the
electoral management body, and does not add value to the electoral
system in the country. I believe that so many existing political
parties can find ideological accommodation in the existing
political parties, making it possible for Nigeria not to have more
than five political parties. Unfortunately, some politicians hold
party certificates as a trophy and do multiple registrations of
parties for the rainy day.

How can the political environment be sanitised, so that
real parties can play real politics?
I believe that the National Assembly should alter the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended) to
tighten the condition for the registration of political parties. I
believe that a party that wants to bid for power must have
verifiable and functional offices in at least half of the states of
the federation. The framers of the constitution did not envisage
and, or make provision for regional parties or local parties. There
is also no room in the constitution for portfolio parties. It is
imperative for them to subject themselves to party discipline. The
parties must also be run professionally and ethically. This demands
that governors and elected public officials must allow the party
bureaucracy to work and guide the actions of those in government.
The parties must seek to generate funds of their own and keep a
comprehensive and scientific database of their members.

The Guardian