ELECTORAL ACT AMENDED BY REPS TO IMPOSE N10M FINE, 2-YEARS JAIL ON DUAL PARTY MEMBERS
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The House of Representatives yesterday amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalize dual membership of political parties, stipulating a fine of N10 million or a maximum of two years’ imprisonment for offenders.
The amendment, part of a bill aimed at strengthening regulations on political party membership, was passed during plenary after lawmakers debated it in the committee of the whole.
The legislation adds three new subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which governs political party membership, making it illegal for an individual to belong to more than one political party simultaneously.
Under the new provision, anyone found to be registered with multiple parties will have such memberships nullified.
“A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time,” the amendment states.
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It further provides that any dual membership will be invalidated, and the individual will cease to be recognized as a valid member of any political party until the situation is regularized according to the Electoral Act and the constitution of the affected party.
The amendment also prescribes penalties for violators:
“A person who knowingly registers or maintains membership in more than one political party at the same time commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N10,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of two years, or both.”
During the debate, lawmakers argued that belonging to multiple political parties undermines political integrity and complicates party primaries and candidate nominations.
Abubakar Fulata (APC–Jigawa) raised constitutional concerns, noting that restricting individuals to a single party could conflict with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees freedom of association. He recommended limiting citizens to one party membership at a time rather than outright barring them.
Other lawmakers supported the amendment, describing dual party membership as dishonest and a form of political misrepresentation.
“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,” one lawmaker said.
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