INEC Dismisses Petition Against NDC Legal Adviser, Confirms Resignation from APM

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed a petition filed against the National Legal Adviser of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Barrister Reuben Egwuaba, over allegations of dual party membership.

The electoral body clarified that Egwuaba had formally resigned from his former party, the Allied Peoples Movement ( now a member of the NDC,” Ifogah stated.

Explaining why Egwuaba’s name appeared on both parties’ records on the INEC portal, Ifogah attributed the discrepancy to the APM’s failure to officially notify the Commission of the resignation. “It is likely the APM has not formally communicated the resignation to the Commission. However, the needful will be done to update the portal,” he added.

The Allegation
The controversy began on Sunday when the NDRA, in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Julius Aondowase, raised an alarm over what it described as “disturbing inconsistencies” in official records. The group noted that Barrister Egwuaba was listed as the National Legal Adviser for both the APM and the NDC, with one listing reportedly stated to be “by court order.”

The NDRA characterized the double listing as a “serious legal contradiction with far-reaching implications” and a potential criminal offense under the amended Electoral Act.

“The infraction is not a clerical oversight,” the NDRA stated. “The position of National Legal Adviser is not symbolic; it is a core office within a party’s National Executive Committee, which requires full and exclusive membership. Occupying this role in both the APM and NDC simultaneously is not only politically improper, it constitutes prima facie evidence of dual membership.”

Legal Implications
Citing Section 77 of the amended Electoral Act, the group reminded the public that the law prohibits simultaneous membership in multiple political parties. The Act prescribes a penalty of a N10 million fine, a prison term of up to two years, or both, for anyone found guilty of the offense.

The NDRA had urged INEC to investigate the matter immediately to ensure that “Nigeria’s democracy is governed by rules, not convenience,” warning that political parties must not become “safe havens for legal contradictions.”

**Strategic Relief for NDC**
The timely clarification by INEC effectively clears a significant legal hurdle for the NDC at a time of major political realignment. This development comes on the heels of the high-profile defection of former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who reportedly moved from the ADC to the NDC over the weekend.

By confirming Egwuaba’s legal status, INEC has settled the dust on a challenge that threatened to overshadow the party’s recent gains in membership and political standing.