Reps amend Electoral Act, impose N10m fine, jail term for dual party membership
The House of Representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalise dual membership of political parties, prescribing a fine of N10 million or a maximum of two years imprisonment for offenders.
The amendment was passed during plenary after lawmakers considered a bill seeking to strengthen provisions on political party membership at the committee of the whole.
Under the new provision, three subsections were added to Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, making it unlawful for any individual to belong to more than one political party at the same time.
The amendment states that any person found to be registered in more than one political party simultaneously will have such membership declared void.
“A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time,” the provision stated.
It further provides that where it is established that an individual holds dual membership, such membership will be invalidated and the person will cease to be recognised as a valid member of any political party until the situation is regularised in accordance with the Electoral Act and the constitution of the affected party.
The legislation 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,” the bill stated.
During the debate, lawmakers argued that belonging to multiple political parties undermines political integrity and creates complications during party primaries and candidate nominations.
However, Abubakar Fulata (APC–Jigawa) raised constitutional concerns, noting that denying a person membership in two parties could conflict with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees freedom of association.
He suggested that the law should instead restrict citizens to membership in only one political party at a time.
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.
