Reps Move To Punish Dual Party Membership
The House of Representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2026 to prohibit Nigerians from belonging to more than one political party at the same time.
Under the amendment approved on Wednesday, anyone found guilty of maintaining membership in multiple political parties could face a fine of N10 million, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both.
The proposed changes introduce three new subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act, which regulates political party membership.
The provision states that any individual discovered to be registered in more than one political party simultaneously will have such memberships declared invalid.
Lawmakers said the move is aimed at strengthening party discipline and closing loopholes that allow politicians to maintain parallel affiliations during primaries and political contests.
If eventually signed into law, the amendment will introduce criminal penalties for violations relating to party membership and reinforce the legal framework governing political parties in Nigeria.
