The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has defended the number of political parties in Nigeria saying it would offer Nigerians more choices and also help more voters to find political parties that closely match their beliefs and aspirations. There are currently 68 registered political parties in Nigeria.

 

One of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC of the Commission Mike Igini, while speaking to journalists said there was the right of association under section 40 of the constitution and the right to form a political party is guaranteed.

 

“Well we always learn from human experience and it is always better that we learn hard lessons from the experience of others so that we do not acquire painful scars needlessly. Regarding the matter of too many political parties, there are benefits and costs. The benefits are that more parties offer more choices, political parties mobilize voters around a common set of interests or ideologies. So more parties do not only help to satisfy the constitutional right of section 40 regarding freedom of association and participation in political activities, it also helps more voters to find political parties that closely match their beliefs and aspirations,” he said.

 

He however cautioned that too many political parties with different logos and colours present many drawbacks and practical pitfalls for voters and in particular largely rural voters.

He equally pointed out that too many political parties also fragment capable candidates both for the new parties and the older parties from where some people are likely to join the new parties.