Logo Osun SIEC
ABOUT SIEC
  
FOSIECON Home
  Nigeria’s SIECs:
» Abia SIEC
» Adamawa SIEC
» Akwa Ibom SIEC
» Anambra SIEC
» Bauchi SIEC
» Bayelsa SIEC
» Benue SIEC
» Borno SIEC
» Cross River SIEC
» Delta SIEC
» Ebonyi SIEC
» Edo SIEC
» Ekiti SIEC
» Enugu SIEC
» FCT Abuja
» Gombe SIEC
» Imo SIEC
» Jigawa SIEC
» Kaduna SIEC
» Kano SIEC
» Katsina SIEC
» Kebbi SIEC
» Kogi SIEC
» Kwara SIEC
» Lagos SIEC
» Nasarawa SIEC
» Niger SIEC
» Ogun SIEC
» Ondo SIEC
» Osun SIEC
» Oyo SIEC
» Plateau SIEC
» Rivers SIEC
» Sokoto SIEC
» Taraba SIEC
» Yobe SIEC
» Zamfara SIEC

About SIEC

OSUN STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION

ELECTORAL GUIDELINES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL ELECTIONS

FORWARD

The Commission has, pursuant to the powers conferred on it by the Electoral Law 2002, issued these Guidelines for Elections to the office of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Councillor of each Local Government of Osun State of Nigeria.

These Guidelines are intended to guide Political Parties and their candidates and to educate poll officials and the electorate. It is the belief of the Commission that voter education is an invaluable asset for the attainment of free, fair and acceptable elections. Political Parties, their candidates and the electorate are therefore charged to make good use of these Guidelines.

Hon. Justice Adedotun Sijuwade CJ (RTD.)
Chairman
Osun State Independent Electoral Commission

 

In exercise of the powers conferred on it by the Electoral Law, 2002 and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (in these Guidelines referred to as "the Commission") hereby issues the following Guidelines for the Local Government Elections:

1
         (a)

          (b)
There shall be Local Government Council Elections at which:
A Chairman and a Vice-Chairman shall be elected for each Local Government Council.
A Councilor shall be elected for each Ward in each Local Government Council

Local Government Election
 
 
 
2
The State Independent Electoral Commission may designate such public buildings as it deems appropriate to be used as Polling Stations or Units in addition to Polling Booths which may be erected by the Commission except that residences and palaces of traditional rulers, churches and mosques shall not be designated as public buildings for the purpose of this section. Polling Station
 
3   (1)







(2)


(3)




A person shall be eligible to vote in an election under the Law if;
(a) He is a citizen of Nigeria; Vote
(b) He has attained the age of 18 years;
(c) He is ordinarily resident in the Ward or Local Government Area where he intends to vote; and
(d) He is registered as a voter in the Ward where he intends to vote and, subject to sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph, has obtained a registration card to be presented at a Polling Station or Unit on the day of election.

A person shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in a place where he normally lives, sleeps or has his usual abode.

Where a person claims that his name is on the register of voters for the Polling Station or Unit but that his registration card is missing or has been destroyed, the Presiding Officer shall, if;

(a)   The name of the person is found in the register of voters for the Polling Station or Unit;
(b)   He satisfies himself that the person has not voted earlier in the particular election; and
(c)   He is satisfied that the person is not impersonating any other person; allow the person to vote.

Person Eligible to Vote
 
 
 

4 (1)



(2)

No interim, interlocutory or any other order, decision or judgment by Court or any court or tribunal before or after the commencement of the Law respect of any intra-party or inter-party dispute or any other proceedings or matter pertaining to an election under the Law, shall affect the timing of an election under the Law;

No person or authority shall be liable to prosecution, contempt charge, sanction or penalty by reason only that he conducted an election on the day or time appointed by the Electoral Commission for the election.
Court or Tribunal Order
 
5 (1)

A person shall be qualified for election under the Law if:

(a)He is a Nigerian citizen of not less than 30 years of age in the case of Chairmanship and not less than 25 years of age in the case of Councillorship;

(b) He is ordinarily resident in the Ward or Constituency in which he intends to contest the election;

(c) He produces evidence of tax payment as and when due for a period of three consecutive years immediately preceding the year of the election;

(d) In the case of Councillorship election, he is nominated in writing by 10 persons whose names appear in the  register of voters for the Ward in which he intends to contest the election;

(e) He is educated up to secondary school level or its equivalent;

(f) In the case of Chairmanship election, he is nominated in writing by 20 persons whose names appear in the register of voters for their respective Wards from at least two-thirds of all the Wards in the Local Government Area where he intends to contest the election;

(g)  He makes to the Electoral Commission a payment of a non-refundable sum prescribed for the post he intends to  contest by the Commission;

(h) He has not been dismissed from the Public or Civil Service of the Federation or of a State or Local Government or  from an employment in the private sector.

(i)  He has not been adjudged guilty of treason or treasonable felony by any court or tribunal of competent  jurisdiction in Nigeria;

(j) He is registered as a voter in the Ward or Constituency in which he intends to contest the election;

(k)    He is a registered member of a political party; and,

(l) In the case of candidate contesting as Chairman, he has nominated from a Ward other than his own another candidate who shall run as his associate candidate for the office of Vice-Chairman. Provided that in the case of a person who has held public office during the relevant period, evidence of tax payment means a valid Tax Clearance Certificate issued by the appropriate Board of Internal Revenue Service.

Qualification for Contesting Election
..................................................................................................................................................
6
A candidate, and his political party shall campaign for elections in the following manner

(a) campaign shall be within the Constituency in which a candidate intends to contest the election:

(b) campaign shall not be allowed within 24 hours preceding the date of the election; out in churches, mo quest or other religious places, military or police barracks or stations, public offices, school  or any other place the commission may forbid from time to time;

(e)  campaign shall not be based on sectional, ethnic or religious sentiments or prejudices;
(f)   abusive, vile or derogatory language shall not be used during campaign;
 and
(g)  no masquerade shall be used or employed by any political party.
Campaign for Elections
..................................................................................................................................................
7  (1)





(2)


(3)


(4)



(5)




(6)
A candidate for an election under the Law shall be nominated in writing Nomination by such number of persons prescribed by paragraph 6(c) or(d) of the Law and the nominators shall

(a) in the case of the Chairman, be from different parts of the Constituency; and
(b) be persons whose names appear on the register of voters in the Constituency.

The nomination maybe as in Form OSSIEC 4C set out in Schedule 3 to the Law and shall be subscribed to by the candidate and by the persons nominating him.

The Electoral Officer or Assistant Electoral Officer, as the case may be, shall supply each candidate for an election with nomination forms on payment of such fee as may be prescribed by the Electoral Commission.

Each candidate, or one of the persons nominating him, shall deliver his nomination form subscribed as in sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph at the place appointed by the Electoral Officer or Assistant Electoral Officer under section 10(1) of the Law not later than four o'clock in the afternoon of the fifth day before the day of the election.

No person shall subscribe as a nominator to more than one nomination form at the same election and, if he does, his signature shall be imperative on any second or subsequent form to which he subscribes as a nominator, so however that no account shall be taken of the nomination of a candidate who has died or withdrawn or whose nomination has not been accepted as valid before the delivery of the second nomination form.

No person who has subscribed as a nominator shall, so long as the candidate stands nominated, withdraw his nomination.

Nomination of Candidates
  .................................................................................................................................................  
8 (1)





(2)
Not less than 21 days before the day specified for holding of an election under the Law, the Electoral Commission shall, through the Chief Electoral officer of the State, publish in the State, a notice

(a)     stating the date of the election; and
(b)     appointing the date at which nomination papers are to be delivered.

The notice shall be further published in each Constituency in respect of which an election is to be held.
Notice of Election
..................................................................................................................................................
9
In order that a voter does not breach any of the rules and regulations in the electoral laws, it is important to understand those activities that constitute Offences electoral offences. Among others, the following are the offences that a voter should not commit:

A. Corrupt Practices:
(i) No person shall corruptly give, lend or agree to give or lend any money or valuable consideration for a vote;

(ii) No person shall either by himself or on his behalf receive, agree or contract for money, loans, office, place, or employment for himself or for any other person so as to vote or not to vote during the election

(iii) No person shall treat by giving directly or indirectly any food, drink, entertainment or provision to and for any person for the purposes of influencing that person or any other person during the electoral process.

(iv)   Corrupt practices shall also include the following:
        (a)        Impersonation
        (b)        Aiding
        (c)        Abetting
        (d)       Counselling or persuading any person to vote or not to vote.

Electoral Offences
..................................................................................................................................................
10 (1)












(2)

Any Person Who:

(a)  forges or fraudulently defaces or fraudulently destroys a nomination form, or delivers to the officer charged with  the conduct of an election, knowing the nomination form to be forged; or

(b) forges or counterfeits or fraudulently destroys a ballot paper or the official mark on a ballot paper or a statement of result; or
(c) without due authority, supplies a ballot paper to a person; or
(d) fraudulently takes out of the polling station or Unit a ballot paper; or
(e) without the authority, destroys, takes or otherwise interferes with a ballot box or ballot paper then in use for the  purpose of an election, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N10,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

An attempt to commit an offence specified in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall be punishable in the same manner in which the offence itself is punishable.

Offences And Penalties In Respect Of Nomination Forms, Ballot Papers, etc And Ballot Boxes
.................................................................................................................................................
11
No person shall on the day of an election do any of the following acts within or outside a polling station:

(i)  canvass for votes;

(ii) solicit the votes of any voter for himself or any other candidate;

(iii) persuade any voter not to vote for any particular candidate, persuade any voter not to vote at election;

(iv) shout slogans concerning political parties;

(v) be in possession of any offensive weapon, instruments, substances or any dress, facial marks or other decoration calculated to intimidate or scare voters:

(vi)  exhibit, wear or tender, any notice, symbol, sign, tokens, flag, badge, banner, photograph or party card referring  to the election or any political party to the election;

(vii)  use any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political party by any means whatsoever,

(viii) cause the disruption of a queue or jumping from one queue to another;

(ix)  loiter without lawful excuse after voting or after having been refused to vote;

(x)     convene or hold or attend any public meeting unless appointed under the law to operate any megaphone;

(xi)    No person shall forge, deface, destroy or tear any of the following:
          (a)     Ballot paper
          (b)     Voter's Register
          (c)     Ballot boxes;

Polling Day Offences
 
12 (1)









(2)








(3)



(4)
Every political party shall, on such day as may be specified by the Electoral Commission before the date appointed for an election, deliver to the Electoral Commission.

(a)    In Form OSSIEC 001 set out in Schedule 3 to the Law, the personal particulars of their candidates for the          election as supplied by the candidates; with affidavit sworn to by the candidates at the Magistrate High Court of          the State indicating that he has fulfilled all the requirements of the office for which he is seeking to be elected.

(b)     In Form OSSIEC 002 set out in Schedule 3 to the Law, a list of candidates the political party proposes to          sponsor at the election.

The Electoral Commission shall, within a reasonable time after receipt of the Forms referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, deliver to the political party.

(a)      In Form OSSIEC 003 set out in Schedule 3 to the Law, a list of the candidates who are adjudged qualified to            contest the election; and

(b)     Where applicable, in Form OSSIEC 004 set out in Schedule 3 to the Law, a separate list of the candidates           rejected by the Electoral Commission.

Where a candidate is rejected, the Electoral Commission shall afford the political party concerned an opportunity to substitute the candidate rejected with a fresh candidate, provided that the substitution is made within a reasonable time or as may be directed by the Electoral Commission.

(a)     Screening and clearance of candidates for elections under the Law shall be in accordance with the provisions of           the Law.
(b)     Screening and clearance of candidates for elections under the Law shall be done by the State Screening           Committee as the case may be.
(c)     The membership of the State Screening Committee shall be as approved by the Electoral Commission, from time           to time.
(d)     Any person not satisfied with the decision of the State Screening Committee on any matter may appeal to the           Electoral Commission for review in Form OSSIEC 005 set out in Schedule 3 to the Law.
List Screening And Clearance Of Candidates
.................................................................................................................................................
13 (1)




(2)


(3)
Every candidate for election under the Law shall, before his nomination form is delivered to the Electoral Officer or Assistant Electoral Officer, deposit or cause to be deposited the amount prescribed in section 6 (e) of the Law by the Electoral Commission for the election and shall, at the time of the delivery of his nomination paper, produce to the Electoral officer or Assistant Electoral Officer the official receipt for the amount.

No nomination shall be valid unless the prescribed amount is deposited and the receipt for the amount produced in the manner required by sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph.

For the purpose of this Election, the fees prescribed by the Commission areas follows:-

(a)     Chairmanship Candidates - N50,000.00

(b)     Vice Chairmanship Candidates - N50,000.00

(c)     Councillorship Candidates - N25,000.00
Deposits
...................................................................................................................................................

14 (1)






(2)














(3)



(4)


(5)



(6)

When a nomination form is delivered with all necessary documents in accordance with the provisions of the Law, the candidate shall be deemed to stand nominated unless and until

(a)     The Electoral Officer decides that the nomination paper is invalid; or
(b)      Proof is given to the satisfaction of the Electoral officer of the candidate's death; or
(c)      The candidate withdraws his candidature as specified in Section 16 of the Law

The Electoral Officer shall be entitled to declare the nomination form
invalid only on one or more of the following grounds:
(a) That the candidate has not produced evidence of tax payments as and when due for a period of three years immediately preceding the year of election or a valid evidence of exemption from the payment pf all or any of the tax; or
(b)     That the particulars of the candidate or his nominators are not as required by law; or
(c)     That the nomination form is not signed as required by law; or
(d)     That the candidate has been nominated in more than one constituency; or
(e)     That the nominators of the candidate or any one of them is not a person whose name appears on the register of           voters in respect of the appropriate constituency; or
(f)      That the candidate does not possess any of the qualifications required under the Law; or
(g)     That the candidate is not a registered voter in Nigeria; or
(h)     That the candidate is not a member of a political party; or
(i)     That the candidate is disqualified under the Law

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Law or any other Law, the decision of the Electoral Officer that a candidate has not been validly nominated under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph shall not be the ground of an election petition under the Law.

Whenever the Electoral Officer decides that a candidate has not been validly nominated, he shall endorse and sign on the nomination form the fact and reasons for his decision.

The Electoral Officer shall, within forty-eight hours of the receipt of a nomination form, communicate in writing on Form OSSIEC 5 set out in Schedule 3 to the Law to the candidate or to one of the persons nominating the candidate or political party sponsoring the candidate; his decision as to the validity or otherwise of the nomination.


A candidate whose first nomination form is or may be invalid may be permitted to submit a second nomination form within the time allowed, but a candidate who forges or falsifies a document or gives a false information for the purpose of nomination under the Law shall be disqualified and prevented from contesting the election.

Validity of Nomination
..................................................................................................................................................
15 (1)




(2)
The Electoral Officer shall, not later than twenty-four hours before the day of election, publish by displaying it or causing it to be displayed at the place or place appointed for the delivery of nomination forms and of in such other places as he may think fit a statement of the full names of all candidates standing nominated and of the persons nominating them with their respective addresses and occupations.

No candidate who has been screened and cleared to contest an election shall be prevented from contesting the election for any reason whatsoever, or substituted except the candidate dies or voluntarily withdraws his candidature.
Publications Of Statement Of Persons Nominated
.................................................................................................................................................
16
A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered by himself or by one of the persons nominating him to the Electoral Officer not later than one o'clock in the afternoon of the second day before the election. Withdrawal of a Candidate
 
17

If after the latest time for the delivery of nomination forms and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Electoral Officer shall, on being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll, and the Electoral Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election.

Death of Candidate
 
 
 
18
If a nomination form signed by a candidate and by the persons nominating him is lodged in more than one Constituency, his candidature Nomination shall be void in each Constituency. Invalidity of Double Nomination
 
19 (1)


(2)



(3)

Subject to the provisions of the Law, if after latest time for the delivery of nomination forms and for withdrawal of candidates for an election under the Law, more than one person remains validly nominated, a poll shall be taken.

Subject to the provisions of the Law, if after the latest time for the delivery of nomination forms and the withdrawal of candidate for an election under the Law, only one candidate remains duly nominated that candidate shall be declared nominated and a poll shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of the Law.

Where a person is declared elected under the provisions of sub-paragraph (2)of this paragraph, a declaration of result in Forms OSSIEC 8E and OSSIEC 8E(1) set out in Schedule 3 to the Law shall be completed and a copy issued to the person by the Returning Officer while the original of the form shall be returned to the Electoral officer as in the case of a contested election.
Contested and Uncontested Election
 
20
Where no candidate remains nominated in any Constituency on the date appointed for the election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall inform the Electoral Commission which shall fix a date for another election. Where no Nominated Candidate
 
21
The result of the poll shall be ascertained carefully counting the votes cast for each candidate at the election and the collation of the figures returned from the various parts of the Constituency. Ascertainment Of Result Of Poll
 
22
On election day the following officials normally officiate and it is important Electoral for the voters to know and co-operate with them for a successful conduct of election: The Officials are:-

A.      The Electoral Officer
B.      The Supervisory Presiding Officer
C.      The Presiding Officer
D.      The Poll Clerk
E.      The Poll Orderly
F.      The Returning Officer

Electoral Officials
 
23 (1)


(2)

(3)











(4)
When a poll has to be taken, the Commission shall appoint from among Poll Clerks, Presiding Officers and Poll Orderlies appointed under this Law, persons to conduct the election in each Polling Station or Unit.

The Presiding Officer shall be in charge of Polling Station or Unit.

For purposes of a contested election, the Commission shall:

(a)     Appoint a sufficient number of Polling Stations or Units in each Ward or Constituency in which a poll shall take          place, and allot voters to the various Polling Stations or Units as may be considered convenient;
(b)    Assign to each Polling Station or Unit, a Poll Clerk and Orderly to assist the Presiding Officer
(c)    Provide each Polling Station or Unit with instruments for making official mark on the voter's card and for applying         indelible ink to the thumb of any person who has voted at the Polling Station or Unit;
(d)    Provide each Polling Station or Unit with copies of the register of voters for the area, or such part thereof as          contains the names of the voters allotted to vote at the Polling Station or Unit; and
(e)    Do such other acts and things as may be necessary for conducting the election in the manner prescribed by the         Law.

The Commission shall appoint, at least, one Polling Station or Unit in respect of each Ward in which the election is to be held.

(a)    Each candidate may appoint a Party Agent to attend at each Polling Station or Unit in respect of the election for          the purpose of ensuring that the interests of the candidate are protected.
(b)    Notice in writing shall be given to the Commission by every candidate, not later than twenty-four hours before          the day of the election, conveying the names and addresses of his Party Agents and the respective Polling         Stations or Units to which they are being posted by the candidate.
(c)   A candidate shall be entitled to change his Party Agent and appoint a substitute before the election, and shall         forthwith furnish the Commission in writing with the name, address and any other particulars of the agent so         substituted.
Arrangement For Contested Election
 
 
 
24 (1)

(2)

The accreditation of voters shall commence on the day and time stipulated pursuant to section 24 of the Law.

The Presiding Officer shall:

(a)    Cross-check the voter's card of a person applying for accreditation against the register of voters and may ask          the voter, if required by a candidate or Party Agent, the following questions or any of the questions, that is:
         (i)     "Are you the person whose name is on the register of voters as follows.(reading the copy of the entry in the                    register)?'
         (ii)    "Are you a person above 18 years of age?"

(b)     Not accredit any voter who answers the questions in sub-paragraph (2)(a) of this paragraph in the negative;
(c)     Mark the name of the voter in the register of voters with biro;
(d)     Stamp and sign the voter's card at the back with the appropriate stamp and state the date and type of election in           code; and
e)       Enter in Form OSSIEC 8A or OSSIEC 8A (1) set out in Schedule 3 to the Law the number of persons registered           to vote at the Polling Station or Unit, the number of registered voters accredited, the serial numbers of ballot           papers issued to the voters, the serial number of the balance of unused ballot papers and the number of           accredited voters standing in the queue at the commencement of voting.

Acreditation Procedure
 
25
At the close of accreditation, the Presiding Officer shall:

(a).     Explain the voting procedure to be followed;
(b).     Introduce the candidates or their posters and symbols, the Poll Clerk and the Party Agents;
(c)      Explain all activities which constitute election offences within the polling zone, including penalties for           committing each offence; Call the roll of accredited voters; and Ensure that posters bearing photographs of the           candidates are displayed ~thin the polling zone.
Post Acreditation
 
26

When the prescribed hour for the closing of accreditation has been reached, the Presiding Officer shall declare accreditation closed and no more persons shall be admitted to the Polling Station or Unit, but those persons already inside the Polling Station or Unit shall be accredited and allowed to vote.

Closing of Acreditaion
 
27
After compliance with the provisions of section 30 of the Law, the Presiding Conduct of Officer shall;

(a)      Announce the commencement of voting;
(b)      Request the accredited voters to line up in a single line;
(c)      Separate the queue between men and women if, in that area of the State, the culture is such that it does not            permit the mingling of men and women in the same queue;
(d)      Request security agents or Poll Orderlies to stand at the end of the queue behind the last accredited voter and           request the voters in the queue to show their voter's cards duly stamped by the Presiding Officer
(e)     Issue accredited voters with ballot papers;
(f)      Direct voters to the voting table where, after thumb- marking the ballot paper secretly, they shall vote in the full           view of all present;
(g)     Count the votes at the close of poll in the presence of the voters; and
(h)    Announce the number of votes counted for each of the candidates.
Conduct of Poll
 
 
 
28

Any person who breaks into the queue while voting has commenced is guilty of an offence of disorderliness under the Law and liable, on conviction, to the punishment provided in the Law.

 

Offence of Crossing or Breaking into another Queue
29 (1)

(2)

No person shall be permitted to vote at any Polling Station or Unit other than the one to which he is allotted.

The Presiding Officer shall regulate the admission of voters to the Polling Station or Unit and shall exclude all other persons except the candidates' Party Agents and other persons who in his opinion have lawful mason to be admitted.

Allocation of Polling Station and Admission thereto
 
30 (1)





(2)




(3)



(4)
If at the time a person applies for accreditation or after he has left the Polling Station or Unit, a Party Agent or Security Agent declares to the Presiding Officer that he has reasonable cause to believe that the person is under the age of 18 years or has committed the offence of impersonation and undertakes to substantiate the charge in a court of Law, the Presiding Officer may order a Police Officer to arrest that person, and the Presiding Officer's order shall be sufficient authority for the Police Officer so to do.

A person in respect of whom a Party Agent or Security agent makes a declaration in accordance with the provisions of sub-paragraph (1)of this paragraph shall not, by mason of the declaration be prevented from voting, but the Presiding Officer shall cause the words "protested against for impersonation" to be placed against his name in the marked copy of the register of voters or part of the register of voters.

Where a person in respect of whom a declaration is made in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph admits to the Presiding Officer that he is not the person he held himself out to be, he shall not be permitted to vote and if he has already voted, the Presiding Officer shall cancel his vote.

A person arrested under the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be a person taken into custody by a Police Officer for an offence in respect of which he may be arrested without warrant.

Impersonation By Applicant For Ballot Paper
 
31 (1)


(2)



(3)




(4)
The Presiding Officer shall ensure compliance with provisions of the Misconduct Law at the Polling Station or Unit in respect of the election.

If a person misconducts himself in a Polling Station or Unit, or fails to obey a lawful order of the Presiding Officer, the Presiding Officer may order the person to be removed from the Polling Station or Unit by any Police Officer, or by any other person authorised in writing by the Presiding Officer in that behalf.

A person removed from a Polling Station or Unit under this paragraph shall not, without the permission of the Presiding Officer, again enter the Polling Station or Unit during the day of the election and if charged with the commission of an offence in that Polling Station or Unit, the person shall be deemed to be a person taken into custody by a police officer for an offence in respect of which he may be arrested without warrant.

The provisions of sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph shall not be enforced so as to prevent a voter who is otherwise entitled to vote at a Polling Station or Unit from having an opportunity of so voting.

Misconduct at Polling Station
 
32 (1)




(2)



(3)


(4)



(5)
Where a date has been appointed for the holding of an election, and of Election there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date or it is impossible to conduct the election as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies, the Commission may postpone the election and shall, in respect of the area or areas concerned, appoint another date for the holding of the postponed election.

Where an election is postponed under the Law on or after the last date for the delivery of nomination papers, and a poll has to be taken between the candidates then nominated, the Electoral Officer shall, on a new date being appointed for the election, proceed as if the date appointed were the date for the taking of the poll between the candidates.

Where the Commission appoints a substituted date in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) and (2) of this paragraph, there shall be no return of the election until Polling has taken place in the area or areas affected.

Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph, the Commission may, if satisfied that the result of the election will not be affected by voting in the area or areas in respect of which substituted dates have been appointed, direct that a return of the election be made.

The decision of the Commission under sub-paragraph (4) may be challenged by any of the contestants at a Court of Law or Tribunal of competent Jurisdiction and on such challenge, the decision shall be suspended until the matter is determined.
Postponement of Election
 
33 (1)




(2)
Subject to the provisions of Section 36 (1) of the Law, when the adjournment of Poll in proceedings at a Polling Station or Unit are interrupted or obstructed Case of by riot or violence or any other reason as may be determined by the Riot, etc Commission, the Presiding Officer may adjourn the proceedings till following day and shall forthwith give notice of the adjournment to the Electoral Officer.

when the poll is adjourned at any Polling Station or Unit:
(a)      The hours of polling on the day to which it is adjourned shall be the same as for the original day of poll; and
(b)      References in the Law to the close of the poll shall be construed accordingly.

Adjournment Of Poll In Case Of Riot, Etc
 
34 (1)


(2)


(3)


(4)
The Presiding Officer shall, after counting the votes at the Polling Counting of Votes Station or Unit, enter votes scored by each candidate in Form OSSIEC8A, as the case may be, set out in schedule 3 to the Law.

Form OSSIEC8A shall be signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and countersigned by the candidates or their Party Agents where available at the Polling Station or Unit.

A Party Agent shall be required to sign Form OSSIEC8A and especially where he has requested for a recount, but failure by a Party Agent to sign Form OSSIEC8A shall not invalidate the result of the poll.

The Presiding Officer shall give to the Party Agents and the Police Officer present a copy each of completed Form OSSIEC8A after it has been signed by both the Presiding Officer and the Party Agents.
Counting Of Votes
 
 
 
35
After the recording of the result of the election, the Presiding Officer shall Post Election take the election results and materials to the Ward Collation Centre under security escort if available,
Post Election Procedure And Collation Of Election Result
 
36

Every result form completed at the Unit Ward and Local Government levels Result in accordance with the provisions of the Law or any Guidelines issued by the Forms to be Signed and Commission shall be stamped, signed, countersigned by the relevant officers and Party Agents at those elections and copies given to the Police Officer and the Party Agents, if available. Result Forms To Be Signed And Countersigned