Under the new amendment, all political parties interested in the Local Government election shall, not later than 120 days before an appointed date for the election, submit to the kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC), a list of candidates they intend to sponsor for the election in each Local Government Area including their personal particulars.

The list of candidates, according to the amended law, is expected to be accompanied by affidavits sworn to by each candidate at the State High Court to indicate that he has fulfilled all requirements for election into the office being sought.

The amendment also provides that KWSIEC shall, within 7 days of the receipt of the personal particulars of a candidate, publish same in the constituency where the candidate intends to contest the election.

By this provision, any person who has reasonable ground to believe that a candidate has given false information in his affidavit, may file a suit at the High Court to contest such information as supplied by the candidate.

If the court by the suit, determines that any of the information contained in the affidavit is false, such candidate, the amended law stipulates, would be disqualified from contesting the Local Government election.

The amended law added that if a political party presents to the Commission a candidate who does not meet the qualifications stipulated, commits an offence which is liable on conviction to a fine of N500, 000:00.

A political party that intends to change any of its candidates for the election shall inform the Commission of such change in writing not later than 60 days to the election, the amendment stated.

However, except in the case of death, no political party would be allowed to substitute a candidate after the stipulated period of 60days to the Local Government election

The amended law further provides that any person who contravenes its provisions shall be deemed to have committed an offence which is liable on conviction to a fine of N50, 000 or imprisonment for a year or both.

Accordingly, if any one does anything that impedes or obstructs the proper counting or obtaining of the correct result of the election, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N100, 000, or 3-year imprisonment or both.

Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
19/05/10