By Michael Peter, The Sight News
The Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu has urged political leaders in the country to focus on improving the Institutional capacity of their parties in order to strengthen democracy in Nigeria.
Addressing a 2nd Phase of a capacity building workshop for key officers of political parties held in Abuja on Tuesday, the INEC Chairman reemphasized some vital areas that need special attention in addressing the gaps in capacity and efficacy of political parties in Nigeria.
He said some of the areas include; “The issue of lack or limited internal democracy, insufficient inclusivity in terms of deliberate policies to promote youths, women and people with disability participation, lack of transparency in funding and expenditures of political parties and campaign expenses and limited deliberate compliance with relevant provisions of party constitutions”.
Yakubu who was represented by the Chairman, INEC’s Elections and Party Monitoring Committee, Prof. Antonia Okoosi-Simbine urged participants at the workshop to be focused on specific learning points that will impact on their respective responsibilities.
He further noted that the workshop affords the political parties’ executives participating to exchange ideas and learn international best practices in party administration and operations.
The ongoing 2nd phase of the workshop was organised for National Legal Advisers, National Treasurers, and National Organizing Secretaries.
