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A civil society group, the Nigerian Democratic Rights Advocacy (NDRA), called for an investigation into what they described as potential violations of Nigeria’s electoral laws involving overlapping party roles.
In a statement issued Sunday in Abuja, the coalition said it discovered discrepancies in official records showing Lawyer Reuben Egwuaba listed as National Legal Advisor to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), with one of the entries reportedly supported “by court order.”
The statement, signed by NDRA Secretary General Julius Aondowase, warned that the situation is more than just an administrative error and raises serious legal issues.
“Under the amended electoral provisions—in particular the modification of Article 77—having more than one political party at the same time is expressly prohibited. The law is clear and uncompromising: anyone found guilty of dual party membership may be subject to a fine of up to ₦10 million and/or a prison sentence of up to two years.
“The position of National Legal Advisor is not symbolic; it is a core position within a party’s NEC National Executive Committee, requiring full and exclusive membership in that party. Therefore, occupying this role in the APM and NDC simultaneously is not only politically inappropriate—it is also prima facie evidence of dual membership and a potential criminal offense under Nigerian law.”
“This situation requires immediate clarification from all parties involved. If these records are accurate, then this is a clear violation of the law. If not, then the public has the right to immediately make corrections and explain how conflicting information can be officially documented.
Political parties must not be a safe haven for legal contradictions. The rule of law must be upheld without exception.
“Therefore, we call on the relevant authorities, including the election regulator, to immediately investigate this matter and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.
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“Nigerian democracy must be governed by rules—not by convenience,” the group said.
Responding to the concerns, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated that the situation may have been resolved internally.
INEC Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, said initial findings showed that the lawyer had resigned from his role at APM and was now affiliated with the NDC.
“My investigation turns out that he has resigned from the APM, meaning he is from the NDC.
“Most likely APM has not communicated formally to the commission. However, the portal needs to be updated,” he said.
