The House of Representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalise dual membership of political parties, a move that could impose tougher consequences on politicians and other individuals who belong to more than one party at the same time.
The amendment, passed during plenary on Wednesday, introduces three new subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which deals with political party membership. Under the revised provision, anyone found to be registered in more than one political party at the same time would have that membership declared void.
The new measure also states that a person cannot be recognised as a valid member of any political party until the membership issue is regularised in line with the law and the constitution of the party involved.
Lawmakers also inserted a punishment clause for offenders. Under the amendment, a person who knowingly registers or keeps membership in more than one political party at the same time commits an offence and, upon conviction, faces a fine of N10 million, a prison term of up to two years, or both.
If the amendment is eventually signed into law, it is expected to tighten the rules around party affiliation and address recurring concerns over multiple party memberships in Nigeria’s political system.
