The House of Representatives (Nigeria) has amended provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, introducing strict penalties for politicians who maintain membership in more than one political party at the same time.
The amendment, approved during plenary on Wednesday, prescribes a fine of ₦10 million or a maximum prison term of two years for individuals found guilty of holding dual party membership. The move is aimed at strengthening party discipline and discouraging politicians from simultaneously aligning with multiple political parties.
Under the new provision, a person cannot legally be registered as a member of more than one political party at any given time. Lawmakers explained that any politician intending to switch parties must first formally resign from their existing party before joining another.
The amendment specifically introduces additional subsections to Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which deals with political party membership and the maintenance of membership registers. With the new rule, any individual discovered to have simultaneous membership in multiple parties risks both financial penalties and imprisonment upon conviction.
Lawmakers noted that the change is intended to address the long-standing issue of political defections and opportunistic party affiliations that often occur during election periods. By imposing legal consequences, the National Assembly hopes to promote transparency and stability within Nigeria’s political system ahead of future elections.
The amendment forms part of broader electoral reforms introduced in the Electoral Act 2026, which was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process and improve the regulation of political parties and electoral activities.
If fully implemented, the new provision could significantly impact politicians who traditionally maintain ties with multiple parties or switch allegiances without formally ending previous memberships, as such actions would now constitute a criminal offence under the law.
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