Nigeria’s House of Representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalise dual membership of political parties, introducing strict penalties including a fine of N10 million or a maximum of two years’ imprisonment, or both, for offenders.
The amendment was passed during Wednesday’s plenary session of the lower chamber of the National Assembly of Nigeria as lawmakers moved to tighten compliance with political party regulations within the country’s electoral system.
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Under the new provision, any individual found to be simultaneously registered as a member of more than one political party will face prosecution and, upon conviction, may be fined N10 million, sentenced to two years in prison, or both.
Lawmakers said the measure is aimed at curbing political opportunism and strengthening discipline within Nigeria’s political party structure.
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The development comes weeks after the controversial Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following its passage by the National Assembly.
The legislation had earlier sparked widespread debates across the country, particularly over provisions relating to the electronic transmission of election results.
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In February, the Nigerian Senate passed the Electoral Act amendment after several hours of intense deliberations and disagreements among lawmakers, especially regarding Clause 60, which deals with the electronic transmission of election results from polling units.
During the heated debate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South, demanded a formal division on the clause, leading to a tense session in the chamber.
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As the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read out the clauses for consideration, Abaribe raised a point of order that prompted murmurs among lawmakers and intense consultations at the Senate President’s desk before a brief closed-door meeting was held.
Concerns were also raised about the timing of the 2027 general elections and potential inconsistencies in several provisions of the bill.
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Subsequently, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion under Order 52(6) for the Senate to rescind its earlier passage of the bill and return it to the Committee of the Whole for further scrutiny.
Bamidele explained that the decision followed the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixing the 2027 general elections for February 2027 after consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly.
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He warned that the proposed election date could conflict with Clause 28 of the bill, which mandates that elections must be conducted at least 360 days before the expiration of the tenure of elected officials.
The Senate leader also cautioned that conducting elections during the Ramadan fasting period could negatively affect voter turnout, logistics, and the overall inclusiveness of the electoral process.
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Meanwhile, the House of Representatives had earlier witnessed chaotic scenes when opposition lawmakers staged a walkout during deliberations on the Electoral Act amendment bill.
The protest erupted after the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, moved a motion to rescind the earlier approval of the bill passed on December 23, 2025.
Opposition lawmakers viewed the move as an attempt to undermine Clause 60(3), which mandates the compulsory electronic transmission of election results from polling units to collation centres.
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When the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, put the motion to a voice vote, tensions escalated after he ruled that the “ayes” had carried the day despite loud objections from lawmakers who insisted the “nays” were louder.
The ruling sparked protests on the floor of the chamber, with lawmakers accusing the leadership of bias and procedural irregularities.
Attempts to calm the situation through an executive session failed as the debate grew heated, with several lawmakers preventing Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu from continuing proceedings before staging a mass walkout that left the chamber nearly empty.
Despite the controversies surrounding the broader amendments to the electoral law, the House proceeded on Wednesday with further changes to the legislation, including the new provision criminalising dual membership of political parties.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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