House of Representatives Amends Electoral Act 2026, Introduces ₦10m Fine and Two-Year Jail Term for Multiple Party Membership
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalise multiple political party membership, introducing strict penalties for individuals found to belong to more than one party at the same time.
PulseNets learnt that under the newly amended law passed on Wednesday, March 11, any person convicted of maintaining membership in more than one political party will face a fine of ₦10 million, a maximum prison sentence of two years, or both.
Details obtained by PulseNets indicate that lawmakers approved the amendment during plenary after introducing three new subsections into Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026.
Section 77 of the Act outlines the conditions under which individuals may be registered as members of political parties in Nigeria. With the latest amendment, lawmakers tightened the legal provisions guiding party membership, making it clear that simultaneous registration with multiple parties is prohibited.
The amendment further clarifies that anyone found to hold more than one political party membership would automatically lose recognition as a legitimate member of any party until the situation is corrected in line with the law.
The newly introduced subsection states:
“A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time.
“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.”
PulseNets further learnt that the amendment also criminalises deliberate registration in multiple political parties.
According to the provision:
“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.”
Legislative sources who spoke to PulseNets noted that the move is aimed at tightening Nigeria’s electoral legal framework and discouraging the growing practice of dual political party membership among politicians and party supporters.
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Analysts believe the amendment could significantly reduce cases of individuals secretly aligning with multiple parties, a development that has often complicated party primaries and internal political processes across the country.
