By Okoi Obono-Obla
Resignation and Digital Register Deletion Under Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026:
If you registered digitally as a member of a political party under Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 and wish to resign in order to join another, you must formally remove your name from the party’s digital register before validly registering elsewhere. Dual membership is prohibited and punishable by fines or imprisonment, so the process must be handled carefully.
Steps Required to Delete Your Name from the Digital Register:
1. Submit a Formal Resignation Letter:
– Write a signed letter of resignation addressed to your Ward Chairman or the relevant party authority.
– Keep a copy and obtain an acknowledgment (stamp or signature) as proof.
2. Party Updates Its Digital Register:
– Under Section 77(2), parties must maintain and submit a digital membership register to INEC.
– Once you resign, the party is obligated to delete your details (name, NIN, photo, polling unit, etc.) before the next submission deadline.
– Practically, a party can promptly update its register before the 10 May 2026 deadline. However, if the party is fragmented and lacks a recognized executive, disputes may delay or obstruct the cleanup of its register.
3. INEC Verification:
– INEC, as regulator, inspects and scrutinizes the updated digital register submitted by political parties 21 days before primaries.
– If your name remains on the register, you risk being considered a dual member, which is void and punishable.
– Section 77(8)–(10) prohibits belonging to more than one party at the same time. Offenders may face a ₦10 million fine and/or two years’ imprisonment.
– If found in two registers, both memberships are invalid until regularized.
4. Joining Another Party:
Movement from one party to another is a recurring feature of Nigerian political culture as the country’s political development continues to evolve. This aligns with the right to freedom of association enshrined in the constitution.
After resigning from your political party and ensuring your name is removed from its register, you may apply to join another party.
Ensure your new membership is properly captured in that party’s digital register before primaries.
Legal Risks of Dual Membership:
For the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history, membership in two political parties at the same time has been criminalized.
– Prohibition: Section 77 forbids dual membership.
– Penalty: ₦10 million fine and/or two years’ imprisonment.
Practical Advice:
– Always retain documentary evidence of your resignation.
– Confirm with your former party that your name has been deleted.
– Verify with INEC or your new party that your membership is valid before participating in primaries.
Conclusion:
To safely switch parties, you must resign in writing, ensure deletion from your old party’s digital register, and confirm proper registration in your new party’s list submitted to INEC. Skipping any step could expose you to disqualification or legal penalties. With only five days left before the 10 May 2026 deadline, speed and accuracy in following these procedures are essential.
Leave a comment