As the 2027 elections draw nearer with political parties concluding plans for primaries and aspirants plotting decampments, Constitutional Lawyer and Chairman Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Orlu branch Chief Sir O.J.O Okolie has warned aspirants across all political parties to consult their lawyers well before cross-carpeting from one political party to another.
Okolie said any decampment that is not legally guided would certainly lead the individuals involved to a state of “Had I known” going by the current 2026 Electoral Act amendment.
Speaking with NIGERIAN NEWSGUIDE weekend, Sir O.J.O Okolie remarked that
the Nigerian Electoral Act 2026, through recent amendments, strictly regulates political parties’ switching, particularly during election periods, to prevent dual membership and opportunistic moves around primaries.
According to him, under the amended dual membership provisions, individuals cannot belong to multiple parties simultaneously, especially near primaries starting from April 23, 2026.
Violators of the section he noted face a N10 million fine, 2-year imprisonment, or both, with dual membership deemed null and void in the first instance.
The Orlu NBA boss submitted that under the newly amended electoral law, parties must submit their digital membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before primaries to enable verification and disqualification for non-compliance.
” For example, switching during primaries according to amendments to Section 77 target “party shopping” where candidates fail in one party’s primary then jump to another. No explicit post-primary switching is allowed without penalties, as registers lock in membership.
This builds on constitutional rules (e.g., Sections 68, 109) requiring lawmakers to vacate seats upon defection unless due to party division or merger”.
Barr Okolie therefore warned aspirants to be guided so that they will not be deceived by political party con men and women including youths who will always leverage the aspirants’ desperation and ignorance of the laws to rip them off in the present political season.
“Aspirants should be wary and aware of the antics of the regular con men and women masqrading as political strategists who will always come to ask them to decamp from party A to B after failing to secure tickets in their former parties.
Demand to see party constitutions and the amended electoral laws before switching. To be on the safer side, get your Lawyers involved first before taking any decisions on decampment to avoid “Had I known” at last, Okolie concluded.