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. <EOS>