NDC, APM IN NEW CRISIS AS LEGAL ADVISER FACES CONTEMPT CHARGE OVER ALLEGED DUAL MEMBERSHIP

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By: Muftau fatimo

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) may be facing a fresh internal crisis following allegations that their National Legal Adviser, Barr. Reuben Egwuaba, holds dual membership in both parties.

A document obtained by the media over the weekend reportedly shows that Egwuaba serves in the same position across both opposition parties, based on records from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Electoral reform advocates say the development contravenes provisions of the amended Electoral Act.

A check on the INEC website, www.inecnigeria.org, also indicates that Egwuaba is listed as National Legal Adviser for both APM and NDC.

Reacting, activist Julius Aondowase said in a statement on Sunday that the situation is more than a clerical error, describing it as “a serious legal contradiction with far-reaching implications.”

“By virtue of the amended electoral provisions, particularly the modification of Section 77, belonging to more than one political party at the same time is expressly prohibited. The law is clear and uncompromising: any individual found guilty of dual party membership is liable to a fine of up to ₦10 million and or a prison term of up to two years.

“The position of National Legal Adviser is not symbolic; it is a core office within a party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which requires full and exclusive membership of that party. Therefore, occupying this role in both the APM and NDC simultaneously is not only politically improper. It constitutes prima facie evidence of dual membership and a potential criminal offence under Nigerian law.

“This situation demands urgent clarification from all parties involved. If these records are accurate, then this is a clear violation of the law. If they are not, then the public deserves an immediate correction and explanation as to how such conflicting information came to be officially documented.

“Therefore, I call on relevant authorities, including electoral regulators, to investigate this matter without delay and take appropriate action in line with the law.

“Nigeria’s democracy must be governed by rules, not convenience,” he said.

The development comes as Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governors of Anambra and Kano states, defected to NDC.