Lawan, Akpabio, Tambuwal, Others Risk Jail Terms For Contesting In More Than One Primary

The former Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Sokoto State Governor and others that participated in more than one primary risk two years’ imprisonment under the Electoral Act, 2022.

Some politicians who had contested for the presidency under their party had lost out, only for them to bounce back on another ticket of their party.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, who quoted Section 115 (D) of the Electoral Act, 2022, while on Channels TV said the politicians risk jail terms.

Igini said, “A 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 on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years].”

He further stated that by “constituency,” the electoral term refers to a separate election whether it is presidential, governorship, senatorial, the House of Representatives or that of the state assembly.

According to Igini, any politician who fails to obey the law is liable to be jailed for two years, and Section 115 (3) even states that any attempt to obtain multiple forms is an offence.

He added, “Section 115 (D) of the 2022 Electoral Act stipulates that no person shall sign, obtain more than one form as a candidate for different elections.

“And the offence for that under subsection K, beyond the financial, he will go to two years’ imprisonment.

“Some people are claiming that they participated in one election, that they filled two forms; it’s ignorance of the law and it’s not an excuse.

“We are preventing them from being candidates for prison and they are calling our names everywhere.”