The House of Representatives is seeking penalties for offenders of dual-party membership including a N10m fine and two-year jail term
The House of Representatives on Wednesday took steps to prohibit dual-party membership in Nigeria’s political system, proposing stiff penalties for offenders following an amendment to Section 77 of the recently signed Electoral Act 2026.
The bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act, 2026 to make express Prohibition of Dual-Party Membership and Provide Penalties for Contravention and for Related Matters (HB.2728)” scaled second reading and was subsequently considered clause-by-clause by the Committee of the Whole before being passed.
The proposed amendment introduces new subsections (8)–(10) into Section 77 of the principal Act to clearly outlaw membership of more than one political party at the same time.
According to the amendment, “A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time.”
It further provides that where it is established that an individual belongs to more than one political party simultaneously, such membership will be invalidated.
The amendment 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 bill also prescribes sanctions for offenders, noting that anyone found culpable could face both financial and custodial penalties.
It states:
“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.”
Debate on the Bill
Leading the debate on the amendment, the House Leader explained that the bill seeks to strengthen provisions of the Electoral Act by addressing the issue of double registration within political parties.
“Mr. Chairman, this amendment bill is amending Section 77 of the existing Electoral Act. That’s all about it. It’s amending the provisions whereby there is an addition to trying to prohibit double registration and enshrining some punishment where such a crime exists,” he said.
However, the proposal drew concerns from some lawmakers who argued that parts of the amendment could conflict with constitutional provisions.
Opposing the section which invalidates membership of both parties where dual registration is discovered, Rep. Abubakar Fulata argued that the provision could violate the constitutional right to freedom of association.
“Mr. Chairman, this act seems to be in contravention of Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which guarantees freedom of association at any time.
“Now, if this act is saying that if it is discovered that someone has registered as a member of two political parties, you’ll be denied the membership of the two parties. Instead of denying the membership of two parties, I think we should recommend that it should be limited to only one.
“Denying him the freedom to associate with all the two political parties he might have belonged to is a contravention of his right under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees freedom of association.
“I submit that this act, we should amend this recommendation to mean that at all material time, a Nigerian must be limited to only one political party. Now, instead of denying a person the membership of the two political parties, I so submit, Mr. Chairman.”
Responding to concerns raised by some lawmakers that individuals could be registered into parties without their knowledge, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the Committee of the Whole, said the law already safeguards against such scenarios.
“I think that is why biometrics is involved. Only you have your biometrics, only you have that.
“Mr. Chairman, it says knowingly in the law, knowingly, knowingly, which means intentional, deliberate. And one of the ways to know that you did that is by sharing your biometrics, which is supposed to be personal to you,” he explained.
After deliberations, the House adopted the document as the working instrument of the chamber and passed the amendment.
