Effects of Network Size on the Average Node Life Time and

79 4.3. Nature of Political Party System

The political party is a connecting link between diverse groups in society and members of the electorate attempting to achieve organized political action. A political party is a body of persons recognized by the Constitution of Nigeria and like a trade union is distinct from the people which constitute it. A political party has its own rights and obligations as provided in the constitution and the Electoral Act.⁴ It is clear by virtue of section 80⁵ that political party registered under the Act shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue or be sued in its corporate name.

In Iyizoba v Olanipekun,⁶ it was held that the NPP being a registered party under the Electoral Act of 1977 was a person in law and was solely competent to sue or be sued. The recognized registered political parties are the only political associations that can canvas for votes and nominate people to contest elective offices.⁷ A member of the Senate, or of the House of Representatives or of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if being a person whose election to the Senate or of Hose of Representatives or of the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period of which that House was elected.⁸

The Electoral Act⁹ confers political parties with rights and duties as to be treated as incorporated association within the class of trade union and similar organization. In Rimi &

Anor v Kano¹⁰, the court held that „A political party being a creation of the constitution is a legal entity, and …. party constitution binds the party and its members as well.‟¹¹

80 engage in political campaigns, appealing to electorates to go to the polling centres and vote for the candidates of their choice. In Nigeria, parties doll out a lot of monetary and other incentives like, the gift of bags of rice, motorcycles, machines, cars etc.

Giving such gifts to the electorates/voters amount to buying their conscience.

Electorates/voters have been observed to change their minds in favour of whosoever gives the highest amount of money or gift irrespective of the credibility or otherwise of the candidates.

b. Socialization: Political parties are vehicles that convert domestic aspirations into concrete objectives. Political parties educate and sensitize the populace and enlist candidates for elective offices after home grooming. They select campaign issues which make up the party‟s message towards captivating the electorate to their symbols during voting. In some cases, political parties act as a link between the government and public opinion.

c. Organization of Government Policy: In a parliamentary system of government, the party that wins the majority in the parliament forms the government while in the presidential system of government, the party that wins the presidency forms the government. Political parties provide a training ground for politicians. Where they are not successful, they remain in the opposition and act as watchdogs of the policies of the government in power constituting viable checks and balances in the system.

d. Fence Mending: In most cases, where the executive and the legislature disagree, the party (if the party is in power) intervenes to settle the problem.

e. Disciplinary Measures: Political parties discipline its members who infringe on the constitution of the party and other intra party feuds. Intra party face-offs occur almost on regular basis.

81 4.5 Electoral Reform Committee

Due to the various pitfalls or problems in our electoral system, the Federal Government in a bid to reform our electoral system, in 2008 set up an Electoral Reform Committee headed by Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais (CJN as he then was). The Electoral Reform Committee sometime in 2009 submitted its report to the Federal Government. The Federal Executive Council (FEC), the highest decision –making organ of the government, had after three weeks of the deliberation on the report, accepted some of the recommendations and rejected quite a few. On Wednesday 11 March, 2009 the Federal Government released its white paper on electoral reforms proposed by the Justice Uwais led Committee to the Senate for confirmation. The recommendations made by the said committee, in order to effect the desired reform in our electoral system, some of which were accepted and others rejected by the Federal Government are as follows;

a. Recommendations accepted by the Federal Government 1. INEC Composition

They recommended establishment of a new, truly non-partisan, independent and impartial INEC composed of:

A. A chairman, deputy chairman and six persons of unquestionable integrity one of who must come from each of the six geo-political zones.

B. The inclusion of six other nominees comprising one nominee each from the following bodies:

i. Labour

ii. Nigerian Bar Association iii. Media

iv. National Youth Council v. Nigerian Civil Society and vi. Women Organization

All the appointments will be subject to Senate confirmation.

82 2. Conduct of Elections

They recommended Open Secret Ballot System which allows

A. A voter to go into a polling booth to mark his ballot in secrecy and drop it in the box in the open.

B. Accreditation of registered voters prior to the commencement of voting for the purpose of tracking how many people cast their ballots in a polling station.

C. Display of voter‟s register prior to elections to enable registered voters, political parties and the electorate generally make claims and objections.

D. Election results will be announced at all polling centers by presiding officers duly signed and copies given to

i. Accredited agents

ii The Police and

iii The SSS

E. State Independent Electoral Commission to be abolished so that INEC can conduct all elections in the country, including the local government polls.

F. Government accepts that politicians convicted of violence and thuggery during elections, in addition to any other punishment should be banned from holding public office for 10years