Electoral Act Amended: Reps Prescribe N10m Fine, Jail For Dual Membership

The House of Representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalise dual membership of political parties.

Under the new provision, individuals found guilty of belonging to more than one political party at the same time will face a fine of N10 million and a maximum prison term of two years.

The lower legislative chamber passed the amendment during Wednesday’s plenary.

The current law, the Electoral Act 2026, replaced the Electoral Act 2022 after it was passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on Feb. 18, 2026.

The new legislation introduced several reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections, including new rules on party primaries, digital membership registers for political parties, and other measures to improve transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

The amendment by the House came amid ongoing concerns about internal party discipline, political defections and disputes over party membership, which have repeatedly generated litigation and political tension within Nigeria’s multi-party system.

Nigeria has amended its electoral law multiple times since the return to democratic rule in 1999, with major revisions carried out in 2003, 2006, 2010, 2022 and most recently in 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions and electoral credibility.

Lawmakers say the latest provision targeting dual party membership is intended to reinforce party discipline, prevent manipulation of party structures and ensure greater transparency in the country’s political process.