‘Dual Party Role’: Legal Breach Raises Questions Over APM, NDC Records

A civil society group known as Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy (NDRA) has raised an alarm over an alleged infraction on the provision the revised Electoral Act forbidding dual membership of two political parties by an individual. The group, in a press statement released on Sunday said that its attention had been drawn to disturbing inconsistencies […]

A civil society group known as Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy (NDRA) has raised an alarm over an alleged infraction on the provision the revised Electoral Act forbidding dual membership of two political parties by an individual.

The group, in a press statement released on Sunday said that its attention had been drawn to disturbing inconsistencies in official party records which list Barr. Reuben Egwuaba as National Legal Adviser in both the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), with one of the listings expressly stated to be “by court order.”

The statement signed by the General-Secretary of the group, Julius Aondowase noted that the infraction is not a clerical oversight—it is a serious legal contradiction with far-reaching implications.

“By virtue of the amended electoral provisions—particularly the modification of Section 77—belonging to more than one political party at the same time is expressly prohibited. The law is clear and uncompromising: any individual found guilty of dual party membership is liable to a fine of up to ₦10 million and/or a prison term of up to two years.

“The position of National Legal Adviser is not symbolic; it is a core office within a party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which requires full and exclusive membership of that party. Therefore, occupying this role in both the APM and NDC simultaneously is not only politically improper—it constitutes prima facie evidence of dual membership and a potential criminal offence under Nigerian law.

“This situation demands urgent clarification from all parties involved. If these records are accurate, then this is a clear violation of the law. If they are not, then the public deserves an immediate correction and explanation as to how such conflicting information came to be officially documented.
Political parties must not become safe havens for legal contradictions. The rule of law must be upheld without exception.

“We therefore call on relevant authorities, including electoral regulators, to investigate this matter without delay and take appropriate action in line with the law. Nigeria’s democracy must be governed by rules—not convenience,” the group said.