A proposed amendment to the 2026 Electoral Act by Nigeria’s House of Representatives, seeking to impose a ₦10 million fine or a two-year prison term on individuals holding membership in more than one political party, has sparked widespread debate among political stakeholders.
The amendment, introduced in the lower chamber of the National Assembly of Nigeria, proposes new clauses to Section 77 of the Electoral Act dealing with political party membership. It was sponsored by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere.
The proposal states that any individual found to be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time would not only face the penalties but would also lose recognition as a valid member of both parties until their status is regularised.
The development has raised concerns among political analysts and opposition figures over whether the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is prepared to ensure a level playing field ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The bill quickly divided lawmakers during deliberations. Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Jonathan Gaza, supported the amendment, arguing that it would be improper for anyone to register with two political parties at the same time.
However, Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Abubakar Fulata, warned that the proposal could conflict with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.
“This proposed amendment seems to contravene Section 40 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of association,” Fulata said, suggesting that citizens should not be denied the right to associate with political organisations.
Presiding over the plenary, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu insisted that individuals should identify with one political ideology rather than registering across multiple parties, describing dual membership as “fraudulent misrepresentation.”
Outside the National Assembly, opposition voices have also criticised the proposal. The leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, described the bill as unconstitutional and a threat to democratic freedoms.
According to him, the Constitution allows citizens to freely associate with political organisations and only requires that a candidate be sponsored by a single party during elections.
“It is unconstitutional to punish a person for joining political parties. You cannot legislate that someone cannot join three political parties if they want to,” Adebayo said.
A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Maarcellus Onah, also argued that the proposed law may be aimed at preventing potential defections from the ruling party amid growing dissatisfaction over economic and security challenges in the country.
He further criticised lawmakers for allegedly failing to hold the executive accountable, urging Nigerians to scrutinise their representatives in future elections.
Despite the APC’s strong political dominance—with control of a majority of governorship seats and significant representation in both chambers of the National Assembly—critics argue that political defections do not necessarily reflect the mood of the electorate.
Adebayo maintained that the ultimate decision about political leadership rests with the Nigerian people. “The fact that you capture the governors does not mean the people are happy with you,” he said. “It is the people who will have the final say.”