ABUJA — A legal and political firestorm is brewing within the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) following allegations that Barrister Reuben Egwuaba holds top leadership positions in both parties simultaneously. The controversy surfaced over the weekend as documents reportedly reviewed from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal show Egwuaba listed as the National Legal Adviser for both the NDC and the APM. The overlap has triggered immediate calls for an investigation, as dual party membership is strictly prohibited under the newly amended Electoral Act 2026.
The allegations carry significant weight due to recent legislative reforms. In March 2026, the House of Representatives passed a landmark amendment to Section 77 of the Electoral Act, specifically designed to eliminate political nomadism and double-dealing within party structures. Under the updated law, it is expressly illegal for any individual to belong to more than one political party at the same time. Violators now face a fine of up to ₦10 million, a prison term of up to two years, or both, for those found guilty of maintaining multiple affiliations.
Reacting to the development on Sunday, civil rights activist Julius Aondowase dismissed the possibility of a clerical error, citing the strategic importance of the National Legal Adviser role. He noted that the office is a core component of a party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which requires exclusive membership and total loyalty. Aondowase argued that the official documentation on the INEC portal constitutes prima facie evidence of a criminal offense, demanding that electoral regulators clarify whether the records are accurate or if there has been a massive administrative failure.
The unfolding situation places both the NDC and the APM under intense scrutiny. If the allegations are substantiated, it could lead to the disqualification of party actions authorized by the legal adviser and trigger the first major test of the Electoral Act’s new punitive measures. As of Monday morning, neither Barrister Egwuaba nor the leadership of the two parties had issued an official rebuttal to the claims. Nigeria’s democracy must be governed by rules rather than convenience, and this case is likely to set a precedent for party discipline ahead of the next election cycle.
