NASS is Concerned with Themselves, Power, Not the Nigerian People, “Ignoring Fake Certificates, Yet Criminalizing Dual Party Membership” – Ya’u

By Emmanuel Kwada

Civil society leader Yunusa Zakari Ya’u has launched a blistering attack on Nigeria’s National Assembly, accusing lawmakers of prioritizing self-preservation and personal power over the genuine needs of ordinary Nigerians amid the House of Representatives’ passage of an amendment to the Electoral Act 2026.

In a hard-hitting interview on Arise News’ Newsnight, Ya’u, Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, condemned the House’s decision to criminalize dual membership in political parties, imposing penalties of up to ₦10 million fine, two years’ imprisonment, or both as a narrow, self-serving move that distracts from far more pressing electoral reforms.

Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Yunusa Zakari Yau

“The politicians in the National Assembly are more concerned about doing a law that would favor them and not necessarily concerned about delivering free and fair elections,” Ya’u declared.

He described the focus on punishing politicians for belonging to multiple parties as emblematic of self-interest, arguing that lawmakers have sidelined fundamental demands from Nigerians and civil society for transparent, credible polls.

Ya’u pointed out glaring contradictions in the legislature’s approach: “The same people who are rejecting electronic transmission on one hand are also demanding [electronic digital membership registers for parties] … in just about three weeks, and I think that is not realistic.”

He highlighted how the amendment ignores long-standing calls for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, transparent voting and collation processes, and accountability measures; issues he said are essential for credible elections.

You want to criminalize belonging to two different parties, but you don’t want to criminalize a very fraudulent way of filing papers with fake certificates, fake degrees.

Further underscoring the charge of self-preservation, Ya’u criticized the removal of forged certificates as grounds for election petitions in prior discussions, stating: “You want to criminalize belonging to two different parties, but you don’t want to criminalize a very fraudulent way of filing papers with fake certificates, fake degrees, and so forth.”

He accused politicians of lacking principles or loyalty to party manifestos, switching allegiances opportunistically while crafting laws that protect their positions rather than advance democracy.

The critique comes against the backdrop of broader disillusionment with the National Assembly. Ya’u dismissed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s swift signing of the original Electoral Act as guided by “majority” rule, insisting the true majority comprises ordinary Nigerians, not just lawmakers.

“In my constituency, everybody wants a better law, and what we have seen is not actually what would deliver free and fair elections for us,” he said, calling the rapid assent suspicious.

House of Representatives

This sentiment echoes recent remarks by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), who in an interview blasted the institution’s dysfunction: “As a Senator, I can tell you the way this current National Assembly is going, there’s no difference if it doesn’t exist. Nothing is happening in the Senate.”

Ndume lamented the collapse of oversight functions, with no real debate or scrutiny, a view that aligns with Ya’u’s portrayal of a legislature fixated on self-interest.

Ya’u vowed continued advocacy, stating civil society will leverage the amendment’s passage as an opening to demand a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act.

There’s no difference if it doesn’t exist. Nothing is happening in the Senate.

“We are going to go back to them and insist that they also review the other things that Nigerians are demanding… the whole process of review of the law be done wholly, and that all issues be taken on board, and not just simply one issue that they think is more important for them.”

The amendment, which amends Section 77 to prohibit simultaneous membership and declare dual registrations void, now awaits Senate concurrence before potential presidential assent.

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