| Political Parties > INEC and Political Party Conventions INEC and Political Party Conventions INEC AND POLITICAL PARTY CONVENTIONS The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Electoral Act 2006 provide for the formation, registration and operation of political parties. These legislations also regulate the relationship between the political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
1. Paragraph 15 of the third schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, lists the powers of the Commission which include among others, monitoring the organisation and operation of the political parties, including their finances, and monitoring political campaigns and providing rules and regulations which shall govern the political parties (paragraphs 15c & f). 2. The provisions of S.85 (1) of the Electoral Act 2006 make it mandatory for political parties to give the Commission at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the executive offices under the Act. Where the provisions of a law or regulation are mandatory, all persons affected by such law or regulation have a duty to comply with such provisions. Non – compliance with the provisions of a mandatory regulation renders an act irregular, null and void. Where a congress or convention is held in contravention of the Electoral Act 2006, the decision arrived at and or the officials elected or candidates nominated at such meetings would not be recognised by the Commission. Details contained in: - Para 15 of the 3rd Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. - S.85 (1) of the Electoral Act 2006. |
