The House of Representatives has prescribed a two-year jail term and N10 million fine for politicians who belong to more than one political party.
The clause is included in the amendment to the Electoral Act 2026, passed by the lower legislative chamber during plenary on Wednesday.
The amendment introduces three new subsections to section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which deals specifically with political party membership.
The clause criminalizes dual or multiple political party membership by any individual.
The amendment also provides that any individual found registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time will have such membership declared void.
The first provision notes, “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 recognized as a valid member of any political party pending regularization in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the constitution of the political party concerned,” the second provision states.
Meanwhile, the third provision states that, “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.”
