Despite a recent House of Representatives amendment seeking to criminalise dual political party membership, the legal position remains unchanged—for now.
In March 2026, Nigeria’s House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Electoral Act 2026, proposing a ₦10 million fine and/or two years’ imprisonment for anyone holding membership in two political parties simultaneously.
However, this provision is not yet law. To take effect, the amendment must also be passed by the Senate and receive presidential assent. The Senate has not yet acted on the proposal.
Under Nigeria’s current legal framework, dual party membership—while potentially violating party constitutions or attracting political criticism—is not a criminal offence.
What the law does explicitly prohibit is dual nomination. A political party may not nominate the same candidate for more than one elective position in a single election cycle, nor may any individual seek nomination from multiple parties for the same election.
