By Virtue of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010, Did all Presidential and other Candidates meet the guidelines?
Section 87 of the Electoral Act.
87.
-(1) A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act
shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions.
(2) The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the
various elective positions shall be by direct or indirect primaries.
(3) A political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure
that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of
the party.
(4) A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice
of its candidate shall adopt the procedure outlined below:
(a) In the case of nominations to the position of
Presidential candidate, a political party shall,
(i) hold special conventions in each of the 36 States of the Federation
and FCT, where delegates shall vote for each of the aspirants at
designated centres in each State Capital on specified dates.
(ii) a National Convention shall be held for the ratification of the
candidate with the highest number of votes.
(iii) the aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting
in the 36 States of the Federation and FCT, shall be declared the
winner of the Presidential primaries of the political party and the
aspirants name shall be forwarded to the Independent National
Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party after ratification
by the national convention.
(b) In the case of nominations to the position of
Governorship candidate, a political party shall, where they intend to
sponsor candidates:
(i) hold special congress in each of the local government areas of the
States with delegates voting for each of the aspirants at the
congress to be held in designated centres on specified dates.
(ii) The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting
shall be declared the winner of the primaries of the party and
aspirant's name shall be forwarded to the Independent National
Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party, for the
particular State.
(c) In the case of nominations to the position of a
Senatorial candidate, House of Representatives and State House of
Assembly a political party shall, where they intend to sponsor
candidates:
(i) hold special congresses in the Senatorial District, Federal
Constituency and the State assembly constituency respectively,
with delegates voting for each of the aspirants in designated
centres on specified dates.
(ii) The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting
shall be declared the winner of the primaries of the party and the
aspirant's name shall be forwarded to the Independent National
Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party.
(d) In the case of the position of a Chairmanship
candidate of an Area council a political party shall, where they intend to
sponsor candidates:
(i) hold special congresses in the Area Councils, with delegates voting
for each of the aspirants at designated centres on a specified date.
(ii) The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting
shall be declared the winner of the primaries of the party and the
aspirant's name shall be forwarded to the Independent National
Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party.
(5) In the case of a councillorship candidate, the procedure for the nomination
of the candidate shall be by direct primaries in the ward and the name of the
candidate with the highest number of votes shall be submitted to the
Independent National electoral commission as the candidate of the party.
(6) Where there is only one aspirant in a political party for any of the elective
positions mentioned in sub section (4)(a), (b), (c) and (d), the party shall
convene a special convention or congress at a designated centre on a specified
date for the confirmation of such aspirant and the name of the aspirant shall be
forwarded to the Independent National Electoral commission as the candidate
of the party.
(7) A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice
of its candidate shall clearly outline in its constitution and rules the procedure
for the democratic election of delegates to vote at the convention, congress or
meeting.
(8) No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate at the
Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of nomination of
candidates for any election.
(9) Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the
conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the
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election for the particular position in issue.
(10) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Act or rules of a political party, an
aspirant who complains that any of the provisions of this Act and the guidelines
of a political party has not been complied with in the selection or nomination of
a candidate of a political party for election, may apply to the Federal High Court
or the High Court of a State, for redress.
(11) Nothing in this section shall empower the Courts to stop the holding of
primaries or general election under this Act pending the determination of the
suit.
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(A Nigerian Perspective on World Affairs)
Dalton Russell: Fact is, all lies, all evil deeds, they stink. You can cover them up for a while, but they don't go away
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