An electric wheelchair operation apparatus configured to operate an electric wheelchair so that the electric wheelchair performs a forward/backward movement and a turning motion, comprising: an armrest part extending in a wheelchair forward/backward direction, the armrest part being configured so that a user can put his/her forearm thereon; a sliding part disposed in the armrest part, the sliding part being disposed so that it can be moved relative to the armrest part in the wheelchair forward/backward direction; a dial part disposed on a tip side of the armrest part, the dial part being disposed so that it can be moved together with the sliding part relative to the armrest part in the wheelchair forward/backward direction and configured so that the user can grasp and rotate the dial part; a first sensor configured to detect an amount of movement of the sliding part and/or a position thereof with respect to a reference point in the wheelchair forward/backward direction; a second sensor configured to detect an amount of rotation, a rotational position, and/or a rotational torque of the dial part; and an electric wheelchair drive control unit configured to control a traveling motion of the electric wheelchair by associating the amount of movement of the sliding part and/or the moved position thereof with respect to the reference point in the wheelchair forward/backward direction detected by the first sensor with a traveling motion of the electric wheelchair in a forward/backward direction and associating the amount of rotation, the rotational position, and/or the rotational torque of the dial part detected by the second sensor with a turning motion of the electric wheelchair in a left/right direction. an armrest part extending in a wheelchair forward/backward direction, the armrest part being configured so that a user can put his/her forearm thereon; a sliding part disposed in the armrest part, the sliding part being disposed so that it can be moved relative to the armrest part in the wheelchair forward/backward direction; a dial part disposed on a tip side of the armrest part, the dial part being disposed so that it can be moved together with the sliding part relative to the armrest part in the wheelchair forward/backward direction and configured so that the user can grasp and rotate the dial part; a first sensor configured to detect an amount of movement of the sliding part and/or a position thereof with respect to a reference point in the wheelchair forward/backward direction; a second sensor configured to detect an amount of rotation, a rotational position, and/or a rotational torque of the dial part; and an electric wheelchair drive control unit configured to control a traveling motion of the electric wheelchair by associating the amount of movement of the sliding part and/or the moved position thereof with respect to the reference point in the wheelchair forward/backward direction detected by the first sensor with a traveling motion of the electric wheelchair in a forward/backward direction and associating the amount of rotation, the rotational position, and/or the rotational torque of the dial part detected by the second sensor with a turning motion of the electric wheelchair in a left/right direction.