Reps amend Electoral Act, criminalise dual party membership

Individuals found guilty of belonging to more than one party to face fine of N10m, jail term of two years.

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalise dual membership of political parties.

Under the new provision, individuals found guilty of belonging to more than one political party at the same time will face a fine of N10 million and a maximum prison term of two years.

The lower legislative chamber passed the amendment during Wednesday’s plenary.

The amendment introduces three new subsections to section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which deals with political party membership.

The amendment provides that any individual found to be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time 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 reads.

“Where it is established that a person is registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time, such dual membership shall be void, and the person shall cease to be recognised as a valid member of any political party pending regularisation in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the constitution of the political party concerned.

 “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 amendment generated debate among lawmakers, with some members raising constitutional concerns while others defended the provision.

Hassan Fulata, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member from Jigawa state, said the amendment could contravene section 40 of the constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.

Fulata argued that denying an individual membership of both parties if dual registration is discovered may infringe on that right.

He proposed that the law should instead limit a person to membership in only one political party at a time rather than invalidating membership in both parties.

Jonathan Gaza, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from Nasarawa, supported the amendment, describing dual party membership as dishonest.

Gaza said it would amount to mischief for an adult to register in two political parties simultaneously, adding that individuals should identify with one political platform at a time.

He noted that while people are free to switch parties, they should first leave one before joining another.

Lawan Ali, a lawmaker from Yobe state, said the amendment mainly targets people who deliberately maintain membership in more than one party.

Ali said Nigerians typically resign from their political party before joining another, but the provision seeks to address cases where people retain membership in two parties at the same time.

Sada Soli, an APC legislator from Katsina, supported the amendment but said the provision was not clearly drafted.

Soli proposed that the electoral commission should notify the affected political parties if it detects that a person is registered in more than one party.

He suggested that the individual should be given 14 days to choose the political party they wish to retain membership with.

According to him, failure to make such a choice within the stipulated time should render the person ineligible to participate in the primary election of any political party for that electoral cycle.

Responding, Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker who presided over plenary, said lawmakers should not encourage dual party registration.

“It is fraudulent misrepresentation,” he said.

The deputy speaker said individuals should clearly identify with a political ideology instead of deliberately registering in multiple political parties.

If signed into law, the amendment is expected to strengthen the legal framework governing party affiliation and curb cases of multiple party memberships.