The House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 11, approved an amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 that criminalises membership in more than one political party at the same time. The development marks a significant step in Nigeria’s effort to strengthen its electoral legal framework and enforce stricter regulations regarding political party affiliation.
With the amendment, individuals who are found guilty of belonging to multiple political parties simultaneously will face stiff penalties under the law. The revised provision states that offenders may be liable to a fine of N10 million, a maximum prison sentence of two years, or both upon conviction.
The amendment was adopted during plenary proceedings in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers deliberated on ways to address growing concerns over the issue of dual or multiple party memberships within Nigeria’s political system. According to the legislators, the move is aimed at promoting transparency, discipline, and accountability in party politics.
New Subsections Introduced
As part of the amendment, the House introduced three new subsections into Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026. This section of the law outlines the conditions under which individuals may be registered as members of political parties in Nigeria.
The new provisions clearly stipulate that a person cannot legally belong to more than one political party at the same time. Lawmakers explained that the introduction of these subsections is intended to close existing loopholes that have allowed some politicians and individuals to maintain affiliations with multiple parties.
Under the revised section, any individual discovered to have memberships in more than one political party will no longer be recognised as a valid member of any political organisation until the situation is properly corrected in accordance with the law and the constitution of the political party involved.
One of the newly introduced subsections states:
“A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time. 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.”
Dual Membership Now a Criminal Offence
Beyond invalidating multiple party memberships, the amendment also makes it a criminal offence for anyone to knowingly register or maintain membership in more than one political party simultaneously.
Lawmakers emphasised that the provision targets deliberate attempts by individuals to manipulate political party structures or exploit internal party processes by maintaining hidden affiliations with different political groups.
The amendment further states:
“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.”
This means that individuals who intentionally engage in dual party membership may face prosecution if the offence is proven in a court of law.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Electoral System
Members of the House noted that the amendment is expected to strengthen the legal and institutional framework governing Nigeria’s electoral system. They explained that the law will help ensure that political party membership records remain transparent and credible.
The issue of multiple party membership has been a subject of debate in Nigeria’s political space for many years. In some cases, politicians have been accused of secretly maintaining affiliations with more than one political party while publicly identifying with a particular party. Such practices often create confusion during party primaries, candidate nominations, and internal party elections.
Lawmakers believe that by introducing clear legal consequences for dual party membership, the amendment will discourage such practices and promote greater political discipline among party members.
Implications for Politicians and Party Members
The new provision will apply to all individuals who register as members of political parties in Nigeria, including politicians, party officials, and ordinary members. Political parties may also be required to strengthen their membership registration systems to ensure that individuals are not registered in multiple party databases.
Observers say the law could also encourage better collaboration between political parties and the electoral management body in verifying party membership records and preventing cases of duplication.
Awaiting Further Legislative Processes
Although the amendment has been approved by the House of Representatives, it is expected to go through further legislative procedures before it becomes fully operational law. This may include concurrence by the Senate and eventual presidential assent.
If fully enacted, the amendment will represent a major development in Nigeria’s electoral law, particularly in addressing the long-standing issue of multiple party membership.
Political analysts believe that the move could help strengthen party loyalty, improve internal party discipline, and enhance public confidence in the country’s democratic processes.
As Nigeria continues to refine its electoral system, the amendment is seen as part of broader efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in political participation across the country.
