By Chukwudi Obasi
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed, at third reading, a provision in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which prescribes a ₦10 million fine and a two-year jail term for anyone found guilty of belonging to more than one political party at the same time.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Electoral Act, 2026, to expressly prohibit dual party membership and stipulate penalties for violators and related offences.
The House Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, sponsored the bill.
The amendment to Section 77 comes as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While presenting the proposal, the sponsor introduced three new subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026.
He explained that the amendment provides that any individual discovered to be registered with more than one political party simultaneously would have such membership declared invalid.
According to the proposed provision, “A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time.”
It further states: “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.”
The amendment also provides that “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 ₦10,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of two years, or both.”
During deliberations on the proposed amendment, several lawmakers, including Hon. Abubakar Fulata, Hon. Dennis Agboola and Hon. Jonathan Gbewfi, contributed to the debate.
Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Hon. Abubakar Fulata (APC–Jigawa), cautioned that the amendment could conflict with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to freedom of association.
Fulata argued that voiding membership in both political parties once dual registration is established might infringe on that constitutional right.
He therefore suggested that the law should instead ensure that an individual belongs to only one political party at a time, rather than cancelling membership in both parties.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Jonathan Gbewafi, backed the amendment, describing dual party membership as dishonest.
Gbewfi maintained that it would amount to mischief for an adult to register with two political parties simultaneously, stressing that individuals must identify with only one political platform.
He noted that while politicians are free to switch parties, they must first leave one party before joining another.
In his contribution, Hon. Lawan Ali (APC–Yobe) said the amendment mainly targets individuals who deliberately retain membership in multiple parties.
Ali explained that Nigerians typically resign from one political party before joining another, but the provision seeks to address cases in which individuals deliberately maintain membership in two parties simultaneously.
Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sada Soli, who also supported the amendment, however, argued that the provision requires clearer drafting.
Soli proposed that the electoral commission should notify the political parties involved if it detects that a person is registered with more than one party, while giving the affected individual 14 days to choose the party they wish to retain membership with.
According to him, failure to make such a decision within the stipulated period should render the individual ineligible to participate in the primary election of any political party for that electoral cycle.
However, presiding over the plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, warned lawmakers against encouraging dual party registration, describing the practice as “fraudulent misrepresentation.”
Kalu stressed that political actors should clearly align with a particular ideology rather than deliberately register with multiple parties.
