A civil society organisation, the Centre for Democratic Accountability and Transparency, has raised concerns over the growing issue of dual party membership in Nigeria, warning that it poses a serious threat to the country’s democratic process.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Executive Director of the group, Dr. Musa Ibrahim, described the trend as “a dangerous loophole being exploited by desperate politicians.”
According to him, “We are witnessing a situation where individuals secretly align with multiple political parties to secure unfair advantages during primaries and general elections. This undermines transparency and erodes public trust in the electoral system.”
Ibrahim called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to intensify its monitoring mechanisms and enforce stricter penalties against offenders.
“The law is clear on party membership, but enforcement remains weak. INEC must step up and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law,” he said.
He further urged political parties to strengthen their internal verification processes, noting that “political parties must take responsibility by maintaining credible and updated membership registers to prevent abuse.”
The CSO also appealed to the National Assembly to review existing electoral laws to close gaps that allow such practices to thrive.
He said, “We cannot build a credible democracy on compromised foundations. Urgent reforms are needed to safeguard the integrity of our elections”.
