Section 30

In practice, after the party primaries and nominations process, candidates are expected to fill and submit INEC prescribed Nomination Forms in compliance with Section 30(1) of the Electoral Act. They include: Forms EC13A, EC13B, EC13C, EC13D and EC13E for President, Governor, Member of Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly respectively. The Form contains a requirement for signatures of nominators for each position who must be registered voters from the state, district or constituency, as the case may be. For instance, the Form provides for up to 50 nominators for a Presidential candidate. It is with respect to these Forms that subsection (2) of this section requires that a person shall not nominate more than one person for an election to the same office.

Subsection (4) tries to protect the process by providing for the non-recognition of the nomination of a candidate who has died or withdrawn, or where the nomination paper was held invalid. To provide clarity and certainty, the 2022 Act adds that such invalidity must be a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction. This was not contained in the repealed Act.

Note: Section 115(1) (d) of the Act provides that any person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election commits an offence and is liable to a 50 million naira fine or 10 years imprisonment term.

Note also Section 35 which invalidates multiple nominations.