Reps amend Electoral Act to criminalise dual party membership with N10m fine, jail term

The House of Representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalise dual membership of political parties in the country.

The amendment was approved during plenary on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Under the revised provision, anyone found to be a member of more than one political party at the same time will face a fine of N10 million, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both upon conviction.

The lawmakers introduced three additional subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which regulates political party membership.

The new provision stipulates that no individual can be registered as a member of multiple political parties simultaneously.

It further states that where a person is discovered to hold dual membership, such registration will be declared invalid.

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The provision reads: “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.

“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.”

If signed into law, the amendment is expected to strengthen the legal framework governing party membership and address the issue of multiple party affiliations in Nigeria’s political system.

The Star