Lawmakers revise election law, suggest N10m penalty, 2-year imprisonment for holding membership in multiple parties

The House of Representatives has made a significant change to the Electoral Act 2026, making it a crime to hold membership in more than one political party simultaneously, with penalties including a fine of N10 million or up to two years in prison for offenders.

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This amendment was passed during a plenary session, after lawmakers reviewed it in a committee of the whole, and it aims to strengthen the rules surrounding political party membership.

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The new legislation adds three subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which deals with political party membership, and makes it clear that belonging to more than one party at the same time is against the law.

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According to the new provision, if someone is found to be registered with multiple parties, their membership will be declared void, and they will no longer be recognized as a valid member of any party until the issue is resolved.

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The provision explicitly states that "a person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time", and it also outlines the consequences for those who violate this rule.

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In cases where dual membership is discovered, the individual's membership will be invalidated, and they will not be recognized as a valid member of any party until the situation is rectified in accordance with the Electoral Act and the party's constitution.

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The amendment also imposes severe penalties on those who knowingly register or maintain membership in multiple parties, making them liable to a fine of N10 million or imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

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During the debate on the amendment, lawmakers argued that holding membership in multiple parties undermines the integrity of the political process and creates problems during party primaries and candidate nominations.

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However, Abubakar Fulata, a member of the APC from Jigawa, raised concerns about the constitutionality of denying someone membership in two parties, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.

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Fulata suggested that instead of denying membership, the law should limit citizens to membership in only one party at a time, to address the issue.

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Other lawmakers strongly supported the amendment, describing dual party membership as dishonest and a form of political misrepresentation, with one member stating that "you cannot put your legs in two different houses at the same time" and emphasizing the need for moral justice and honesty in belonging to one party at a time.