Samson Itodo, the executive director of Yiaga Africa, says Nigeria’s Electoral Act does not expressly prohibit or sanction dual membership of political parties, despite growing concerns over politicians associating with multiple parties.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, Itodo said it was morally wrong for an individual to belong to two political parties because parties are built on different ideologies, identities and philosophies.
“It is unacceptable for one individual to be a member of two political parties,” he said.
According to him, a political party member is someone officially registered at a ward level, issued a membership card, pays dues and whose name appears in the party register.
Itodo explained that while individuals may support different political associations, formal membership in multiple parties raises ethical and political concerns.
“Political parties exist to aggregate social interests and contest for political power,” he said.
“These parties are quite different in their ideology, identity and philosophy. Therefore, it is immoral for one individual to belong to two political parties.”
ELECTORAL ACTS’S STANCE
The director, however, clarified that the current Electoral Act does not specifically criminalise dual party membership.
“A few weeks ago, particularly in March, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to section 77(2) of the Act that criminalises dual membership of political parties,” he said.
He noted that the Senate has yet to pass the amendment bill.
“Therefore, as it stands within our electoral law, dual membership of political parties is not expressly condemned and it’s not expressly sanctioned,” Itodo added.
He also explained that the law is clearer on issues relating to the nomination of candidates.
According to him, a candidate cannot be presented by two political parties, while a political party cannot nominate one candidate for two different offices.
“When it comes to the nomination of candidates, the law is clear that a candidate cannot be presented by two political parties,” he said.
Itodo added that although some legal analysts infer from existing electoral guidelines that dual membership may be improper, the law currently lacks direct and enforceable provisions against it.
