The 1999 Constitution

Section 221

No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or
contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election.

(Only political parties can campaign for votes for any candidate. Only political parties can fund or spend money for any candidate during any election.)

Section 222

No association by whatever name called shall function as a party, unless –

(No organisation regardless of whatever they call themselves can function/ act as a political party except; )

Section 222 (a)

the names and addresses of its national officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral
Commission;

(The names and addresses of its principal officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC);)

Section 222 (b)

the membership of the association is open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his place of origin,
circumstance of birth, sex, religion or ethnic grouping;

(Membership of the organisation is open to every Nigerian without any form of discrimination. (This is basically to stop ethnic, religious or gender discrimination))

Section 222 (c)

a copy of its constitution is registered in the principal office of the Independent National Electoral
Commission in such form as may be prescribed by the Independent National Electoral Commission;

(A copy of such an organisation’s constitution (in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s approved format) must be registered with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).)

Section 222 (d)

any alteration in its registered constitution is also registered in the principal office of the Independent
National Electoral Commission within thirty days of the making of such alteration;

(If such a constitution is altered, such an alteration/amendment must be registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission within 30 days of such an amendment being made.)

Section 222 (e)

the name of the association, its symbol or logo does not contain any ethnic or religious connotation or give the appearance that the activities of the association are confined to a part only of the geographical area of Nigeria; and

(Nothing depicting the organisation must contain any religious or ethnic emblem or suggest that the organisation is discriminatory in any way shape or form.)

Section 222 (f)

the headquarters of the association is situated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

(The headquarters of the organisation must be in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.)

Section 223 (1)

The constitution and rules of a political party shall-

(The constitution of a political party must; )

Section 223 (1)(a)

provide for the periodical election on a democratic basis of the principal officers and members of the
executive committee or other governing body of the political party; and

(Ensure that there is an election at any interval for the election of its principal officers or any other authority of the political party.)

Section 223 (1)(b)

ensure that the members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party reflect the federal character of Nigeria.

(Ensure that the principal officers or authority reflect the federal character of Nigeria. (Basically, ensure there is rotation or zoning among the principal officers))

Section 223 (2)

For the purposes of this section –

(To comply with this section – )

Section 223 (2)(a)

the election of the officers or members of the executive committee of a political party shall be deemed to be periodical only if it is made at regular intervals not exceeding four years; and

(The elections of principal members of the political party shall not exceed four (4) years and must be held periodically.)

Section 223 (2)(b)

the members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political character of Nigeria only if the members thereof belong to different states not being less in number than two-thirds of all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

(There can only be a set of principal officers of such a political party, if the members of the organisation belong to different states not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.)