By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The House of Representatives on Wednesday amended the Electoral Act 2026, proposing stiff penalties against individuals who hold membership of more than one political party at the same time, in a move aimed at strengthening party discipline and safeguarding Nigeria’s electoral process.
The amendment provides that anyone found guilty of dual party membership could face a fine of N10 million, a maximum prison sentence of two years, or both, if the bill is eventually signed into law.
The lawmakers introduced three additional subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act, which specifically addresses issues relating to political party membership and registration.
According to the proposed provision, any individual discovered to be registered in more than one political party simultaneously would have such memberships declared invalid, pending proper regularisation in line with the law and the constitution of the affected political party.
The amendment states in part: “A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time.”
It further provides that where dual registration is established, such memberships would be rendered void, while the individual would cease to be recognised as a legitimate member of any political party until the situation is corrected in accordance with the law.
The proposed law also introduces criminal liability, stating that any person who knowingly registers or maintains membership in multiple political parties commits an offence punishable upon conviction by a N10 million fine, a two-year prison term, or both.
The legislative move comes amid increasing concerns over alleged cases of politicians maintaining affiliations with more than one political platform, a development political observers say weakens party structures, fuels internal crises, and undermines democratic values.
Although existing electoral regulations already discourage multiple party memberships, enforcement has largely been administrative, with little or no criminal consequences. Proponents of the amendment argue that the absence of clearly defined sanctions has created loopholes that some political actors allegedly exploit, particularly during party primaries and candidate selection processes.
In recent years, Nigeria’s political space has witnessed frequent defections and disputes over authentic party membership registers, especially within major political parties, often leading to prolonged legal battles and internal divisions.
Political analysts believe the proposed amendment could help sanitise the system by promoting transparency in party membership records and discouraging opportunistic political alignments driven by personal interests rather than ideology.
The development is also seen as part of broader efforts by the National Assembly to strengthen the legal framework guiding Nigeria’s democracy and enhance the credibility of elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Supporters of the amendment maintain that criminalising dual party membership would not only promote accountability but also reinforce the integrity of Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system.
However, The Merit Newspaper reports that the amendment will only take effect if it successfully passes the remaining legislative stages and receives presidential assent.
Observers say its eventual implementation could mark a significant step toward addressing persistent concerns about political loyalty, party cohesion, and electoral transparency in Nigeria.
