*Slams two-year imprisonment, N10m fine on offender
WorldStage– Nigeria’s House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the National Assembly on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 amended the Electoral Act to officially criminalise dual membership in political parties.
It also imposed maximum prison term of two years and minimum of N10 million fine on offender, leaving the court with option of imposing both the fine and the jail term.
The amendment followed a series of major changes signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in February 2026 to strengthen the 2027 general elections:
In previous amendments, political parties were restricted to using only direct primaries or consensus for nominating candidates.
Parties were also required to maintain and submit verified digital registers to INEC at least 21 days before any primary or convention.
Result transmission from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) is now a statutory requirement, while strict malpractice penalties were imposed on vote buying.
Convicted individuals face a ₦5 million fine, up to two years in prison, and a 10-year ban from contesting elections. Returning officers who declare false results also face a mandatory 10-year jail term.
The amendment further requires election funds to now be released to INEC at least six months before a general election.
