Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called for the reduction of registered political parties in the country to six in order to allow for timely collation and announcement of election results.

Amosun made the call on Saturday, shortly after he voted at his Itagbangba Polling Unit, Itoko, Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, a multitude of parties will always make the electoral process cumbersome for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); maintaining political parties should be streamlined for easy and effective electoral process in the country.

Amosun, who rated the conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly election high in the state, said INEC must be commended for an improved exercise.

Related News

He, however, declared that as a senator, he would canvass for a few numbers of parties that would have presence in all the geo-political zones in the country.

“In a scenario where we have maybe sixty-something, seventy-something parties when you listen to what is happening in other climes, the election result was announced within maybe five six hours. The reason is this, maybe a maximum of five parties, but in a scenario where we have seventy-something parties, it is a lot of efforts that the INEC, the umpire will have to put in. Look at the long ballot papers that were given; imagine if you have just five parties. So I want to canvass, and fortunately, I’m going back to the Senate to say that we should find a way to reduce the number of political parties.

“The last time, I thought about 60 political parties or thereabouts that did not even poll one million votes; so clearly, I think we should do something about that. I recommend maximum of six parties. I think a party that will win must be a party that is multi-plural, that will have presence in all political zones. But having eighty, ninety political parties is bringing a lot of stress on the part of the INEC, on the part of the electorate and on the part of everybody even in terms of finances and funding elections. Imagine what they went through. So I think there should be a need for improvement.

“I as a person will want to canvass for that, that we should reduce the number of parties to maximum of six political parties,” Amosun submitted.