PPLPDC
Adoption of Code of Conducts for Political Parties In Nigeria
Another landmark achievement was recorded by the NIPSS PPLPDC, under the ever-forward looking team, headed by Professor Habu Galadima, the Director of Research of the National Institute and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre (PPLPDC) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, in collaboration with European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), organized a 2-Day Validation Workshop to adopt the reviewed Code of Conduct for Political Parties in Nigeria. The Workshop took place on the 24th and 25th of May, 2018 at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja. According to the COO, the Validation was aimed at getting the final input to the reviewed Code of Conduct from all stakeholders, so as to confirm it takes care of enhancing pluralism, tolerance, internal democracy and equality of opportunity for political parties and the political party system. The workshop activities thereby deliberated on the provision contained in the code of conduct. The activities of the first day was in two sessions, the first session chaired by Professor Aja Akpuru-Aja of Abia State University. The Chairman, while noting in his opening remarks that Nigeria’s behavior and conduct of political parties needs to be guided by a set of rules and regulations, congratulated Nigerian political parties for agreeing to develop a Code of Conduct that will guide their actions as institutions of democracy. In the first session, remarks were made by the Project Director of the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES), Mr. David Le Notre, represented by the Deputy Project Director, Mr. Eulbling Rudolf and the Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Hon. Muhammad L. Nalado, who both assured the organisers of the workshop of their support and cooperation in building an inclusive and pluralistic political parties. The Second Session was chaired by Professor Bolade Eyinla, the Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abuja. The session featured the presentations on the revised Code of Conduct for political parties, observations from participants and general discussions. Day two of the Workshop was chaired by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by Professor Antonia Okoosi-Simbine. In her opening remarks, she stated that the primary objective of the day was to have a code of conduct for political parties that would centre on the need to have a set of mutually agreed and acceptable behaviours and practices that guide the conduct of political parties, their candidate and supporters during and after elections. The training culminated into the adoption of the revised Code of Conduct for Political Parties in Nigeria, followed by its official signing by all the political parties present.