Reps amend Electoral Act, propose N10m fine, 2-year jail term for dual party membership
House of Representatives Amends Electoral Act to Ban Dual Party Membership
By Gift Chapi Odekina
ABUJA — The House of Representatives on Wednesday amended the Electoral Act of 2026, making dual membership in political parties a criminal offense. The new law prescribes penalties of up to 10 million naira or a maximum of two years in prison for offenders.
The amendment, approved during a plenary session, aims to strengthen regulations surrounding political party membership. It introduces three new subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act, which prohibits individuals from being members of more than one political party simultaneously.
Under the revised law, anyone found registered with multiple political parties will have their memberships declared void. “A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time,” the bill states.
Additionally, if a violation is confirmed, the individual will lose recognition as a valid member of any party until the matter is resolved according to the Electoral Act and the constitution governing the political party involved.
The legislation imposes significant penalties for violations: “A person who knowingly registers or maintains membership in more than one political party at the same time commits an offense and is liable, on conviction, to a fine of 10 million naira, imprisonment for a term of two years, or both,” the bill outlines.
During the debate, lawmakers expressed concerns that dual party membership undermines political integrity and complicates the processes of party primaries and candidate nominations.
However, Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa) raised constitutional concerns, pointing out that the prohibition could conflict with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of association. He suggested allowing citizens to maintain membership in only one political party at a time rather than an outright ban.
Despite these concerns, many lawmakers supported the amendment, characterizing dual party membership as deceptive. One member emphasized the need for moral clarity in political affiliation, stating, “You cannot put your legs in two different houses at the same time. For the sake of moral justice and honesty, you should belong to one political party at any given time.”
