Reps Propose ₦10m Fine, Two-Year Jail Term for Dual Party Membership in Electoral Act Amendment
Nigeria’s House of Representatives (Nigeria) has passed an amendment to the country’s electoral law proposing strict penalties for individuals who maintain membership in more than one political party.
The amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 (Nigeria) introduces criminal sanctions for dual party membership, prescribing a fine of ₦10 million, a prison term of up to two years, or both for offenders upon conviction.
Under the proposed provision, any individual found to be registered or actively participating in more than one political party would have such memberships declared null and void. The law also provides that the affected person would lose official recognition from all political parties until their membership status is properly regularised.
Lawmakers said the amendment is intended to strengthen internal party discipline and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system. The measure is also designed to address persistent loopholes that have allowed some politicians to maintain influence across multiple political platforms.
Supporters of the bill argue that the reform will help stabilise the country’s party system, particularly as political alignments continue to shift ahead of future elections.
If eventually approved by the Senate and assented to by the President, the amendment could introduce one of the toughest legal penalties yet for violations related to party membership in Nigeria’s electoral framework.