Reps Propose N10m Fine, Two-Year Jail Term for Dual Party Membership

The House of Representatives (Nigeria) has amended provisions of the Electoral Act to prohibit individuals from maintaining membership in more than one political party at the same time.

Under the proposed amendment, anyone found guilty of belonging to multiple political parties simultaneously could face a fine of ₦10 million, a maximum prison sentence of two years, or both.

The amendment introduces three additional subsections to Section 77 of the Act, which addresses political party membership.

According to the provision, individuals discovered to be registered in more than one political party at the same time will have such memberships declared invalid.

The amendment further states that such individuals will cease to be recognised as valid members of any political party until their status is regularised in accordance with the law and the constitution of the affected party.

Lawmakers stated that a person who knowingly registers or maintains membership in more than one political party at the same time commits an offence and will be subject to the prescribed penalties upon conviction.

If eventually enacted into law, the amendment is expected to strengthen the legal framework governing political party membership and introduce criminal sanctions for violations.

The move follows growing concerns over allegations that some politicians maintain affiliations with multiple political parties, a practice critics say undermines party discipline and weakens Nigeria’s electoral system.

Observers have linked the issue to internal disputes and political defections within major parties such as the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

Supporters of the amendment argue that stricter penalties would improve transparency in party membership registers and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.