Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the House of Representatives bill proposing the establishment of the Political Parties Registration and Regulation Commission (PPRRC), warning that creating another public institution would only add to Nigeria’s financial burden.

Naijaonpoint reports that the bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Marcus Onobun (Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency, Edo State), is currently before the House Committee on Constitution Review.

It seeks to amend Sections 40, 81, 84, 153, 222, 225, 226, 228, and the Third Schedule of the Constitution to empower the PPRRC to register, regulate, monitor, and oversee the finances, internal democracy, primaries, and general operations of political parties in Nigeria.

According to its explanatory memorandum, the bill aims to “reduce the burden on INEC and allow the PPRRC to focus squarely on regulating registration, dissolution and monitoring of the operations of political parties to ensure order, transparency and a level playing field.”

Speaking with Punch on Tuesday through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku acknowledged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is overstretched with responsibilities, which has affected its capacity to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

“INEC is biting more than it can chew. Some of the tasks it is saddled with give room for a lot of distraction. As good as it is to relieve the umpire of these tasks, the way to go is not to establish another commission,” Atiku said.

Instead, he suggested that existing agencies, such as the National Identity Management Commission, could be empowered to handle party registration and monitoring without duplicating functions.

The former Vice President stressed that Nigeria needs a stronger and more efficient INEC rather than setting up another costly institution.

“Nigeria needs a well-structured INEC that is efficient in service delivery. We don’t need to establish another commission to replicate functions that already existing institutions can perform,” he added.