Headlines
Warning! Commit Any of These Offences on Election Day and Go to Jail
As Nigerians head to the polls for the 2023 general elections to elect leaders in various capacities across the country, certain rules have been laid down for which offenders are liable to penalties ranging from fine, jail terms or both.
Against this background, it’s critical that the electorate get to intimately understand the laws and what constitutes as electoral offences and how to avoid all that before, during and after the elections.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, anyone in breach of any of these provisions is liable to being arrested and charged to court and prosecuted by INEC after investigation by the relevant Security Agencies.
The offences and corresponding penalties are contained in the Commission’s Electoral Offences and Penalties published in February 2019.
These are some of the electoral offences prescribed by Nigerian Law as of December 31, 2018.
Voter Registration
OFFENCE: Registering more than once, unlawful possession of a voter’s card, selling or buying of voters card
PENALTY: A fine not exceeding N100,000 or imprisonment for one year or both
OFFENCE: Giving false information in any application for registration as a voter
PENALTY: A fine not exceeding N500,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both
OFFENCE: Hindering another person from registering as a voter
PENALTY: A fine not exceeding N500,000 or 5 years imprisonment or both.
OFFENCE: Impersonating a registration official, carrying out registration of persons illegally or forging a registration card
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N1,000,000 or 12 months imprisonment or to both.
Nomination
OFFENCES:
(a) Forging a nomination paper or result form;
(b) Wilfully defacing or destroying a nomination paper or result form;
(c) Delivering to an electoral officer a forged nomination paper or result
(d) Signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election
PENALTY: Person who commits an offence under subsection (1) of this section is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for 2 years.
Ballot Papers and Ballot Boxes
OFFENCES:
a. Unlawful possession of a ballot paper
b. Illegal printing of ballot papers
c. Illegal production or importation of ballot boxes.
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N50,000,000 or for a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years or both.
Disorderly Behaviour at Political Meetings
OFFENCE: To act in a disorderly manner or be in possession of offensive weapon of a political meeting
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both
Improper Use of Voter Card
OFFENCE: Unlawful giving of a voter’s card to some other person for use at an election other than, an officer appointed to do so; being in possession of more than one voters cards
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both
Improper Use of Vehicles
OFFENCE: Conveying any person to a registration office or to a polling unit by government vehicle or boat, except in respect of a person who is entitled to use such vehicle or boat
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000.00 or imprisonment for six months or both
Impersonation and Voting when not Qualified
OFFENCE: A person voting or attempting to vote at an election when he/she is not qualified, or inducing a person to vote at an election knowing that such person is not qualified.
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.
Dereliction of Duty/ False result
OFFENCE: A Polling Officer failing to report on time or to discharge his duties on an election day without lawful excuse
PENALTY: On conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.
OFFENCE: Announces or publishing a false election result
PENALTY: 36 months imprisonment.
Announcing or Publishing A False Election Result
OFFENCE: Returning Officer or Collation Officer or person delivering a false certificate of return.
PENALTY: 3 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
Bribery and Conspiracy: Vote Buying
OFFENCES
a. Paying money to any other person for bribery at any election. On conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.
b. Receiving any money or gift, for voting or to refrain from voting at any election.
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both
Requirement of Secrecy in Voting
OFFENCES:
a. Not maintaining the secrecy of voting at a polling unit.
b. Interfering with a voter casting his vote
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of 6 months or both.
Wrongful Voting and False Statements
OFFENCES:
a. Illegal voting at an election
b. Publishing any statement of the withdrawal of a candidate or about his personal character.
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of 6 months or both.
Voting by Unregistered Persons
OFFENCE: To bring into a polling unit during an election a voter’s card issued to another person
PENALTY: A fine of N100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of 6 months or both.
Disorderly Conducts at Elections
OFFENCE: Inciting others to act in a disorderly manner
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.
OFFENCES:
Within a distance of 300 meters of a polling unit
a. Canvassing for votes, persuading any voter not to vote for any particular candidate or being in possession of any offensive weapon, wear or display any notice, symbol, photograph or party card
b. Using any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political, loitering around a polling unit blaring siren.
OFFENCE: Snatching or destruction of any election material
PENALTY: 24 months imprisonment.
Undue Influence
OFFENCE: Accepting money or any other inducement during an election.
PENALTY: A fine of N 100,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.
Threatening
OFFENCES:
a. Threatening a person with violence or injury to compel that person to vote or refrain from voting
b. Preventing any political aspirant from free use of the media vehicles, mobilization of political support and campaign at an election;
PENALTY: A fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 3 years.
Campaign and Campaign Finance
OFFENCE: Unlawful possession of a weapon at a political rally or voting centre
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N2,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 2 years or both.
OFFENCE: Threatening any person with violence during any political campaign
PENALTY: In the case of an individual, to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months. In case of a political party, a fine of N2,000,000 in the first instance, and N500,000 for any subsequent offence.
OFFENCES:
Campaigning in public earlier than 90 days before polling day or ending it less than 24 hours to the election.
A political party, advertising in a newspaper , radio or TV less than 24 hours before polling day
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000
OFFENCES:
Employing State apparatus including the media to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.
Unequal allocation of Media time among political parties or candidates
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000 in the first instance and to a maximum fine of N1,000,000.00 for subsequent conviction.
OFFENCE: Broadcasting or publishing any material for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or a candidate during 24 hours immediately preceding or on polling day.
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000 or to imprisonment for a term of 12 months and in case of a body corporate shall pay a maximum fine of N1,000,000
Offences relating to finances of a political party
OFFENCE: A Political Party possessing any fund outside or retaining funds or other asset remitted to it from outside Nigeria
PENALTY: Forfeiture of the funds or assets to the Commission and in addition may be liable to a fine of not less than N500,000.
Limitations on Election Expenses and Contribution to a Political Party
OFFENCE: A Presidential Candidate incurring more than N1,000,000,000 as election expenses.
PENALTY: Presidential election, to a maximum fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both
OFFENCE: A Governorship candidate incurring more than N200,000,000
PENALTY: Governorship election to a fine of N800.000 or imprisonment for a term of 9 months or both
OFFENCE: A Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates exceeding N40,000,000 and N20,000,000 respectively.
PENALTY: Senatorial election to a fine of N600,000 or imprisonment for a term of 6 months or both House of Representatives election to a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of 5 months or both;
OFFENCE: A candidate for State Assembly election spending more than N10,000,000.
PENALTY: State House of Assembly election to a fine of N300,000 or imprisonment for a term of 3 months or both;
OFFENCE: A candidate for Chairmanship of an Area Council incurring more than ten million naira N10,000,000
PENALTY: In the case of Chairmanship election, to a fine of N300,000 or imprisonment for a term of 3 months or both
OFFENCE: In the case of Councillorship election to an Area Council, exceeding more than the maximum of election expenses of one million naira N1,000,000
PENALTY: Councillorship election, to a fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of one month or both
OFFENCE: An individual or other entity donating more than N1,000,000 to any candidate.
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of 9 months or both.
OFFENCES:
Aiding a candidate to forge or falsify a document relating to his expenditure at an election Imprisonment for a term of 10 years.
Refusal by a political party to submit its election expenses to INEC in a separate audited return within 6 months after an election
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N1,000,000 and in the case of failure to submit an accurate audited return within the stipulated period, the court may impose a maximum penalty of N200,000 per day on any party for the period after the return was due until it is submitted to the Commission.
OFFENCE: A political party shall not incur election expenses beyond the limit stipulated in this Act. A political party which contravenes this subsection commits an offence and is liable on conviction.
PENALTY: A maximum fine of N1,000,000 and forfeiture to the Commission of the amount by which the expenses exceed the limit set by the Commission.
Veteran journalist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Dele Momodu, has declared that a joint presidential ticket between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi represents the strongest strategy for the opposition to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Momodu said the emerging ADC coalition is gaining momentum as a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he accused of promoting “one-man rule” and weakening democratic institutions.
Momodu argued that an Atiku–Obi ticket offers both experience and electoral appeal, noting that both politicians already command significant national followings from previous elections. He recalled their collaboration in 2019, adding that Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election provides a ready base of supporters that can be consolidated.
According to him, the coalition is further strengthened by the involvement of political heavyweights such as Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, making it a formidable opposition alliance.
“The candidates who placed second, third, and even fourth are aligning. That naturally builds a strong challenge,” Momodu said, suggesting that this development could unsettle the APC ahead of 2027.
He also accused the Tinubu administration of centralising power and undermining democratic processes, claiming that key institutions—including the legislature and electoral system—are increasingly influenced by the executive arm of government. He warned that such a trend poses risks to Nigeria’s democracy.
Momodu further alleged that opposition parties face systemic obstacles, including difficulties in accessing venues, legal pressures, and institutional interference. He argued that these challenges have made opposition unity not just strategic, but necessary.
Dismissing concerns about possible cracks within the ADC coalition, Momodu described such fears as speculative, insisting that current political realities have effectively forced major opposition figures to work together.
The Supreme Court has scheduled hearing for April 22 in the appeal filed by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, in relation to the leadership dispute in the party.
Mark’s appeal is against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal against the September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja refusing to grant some injunctive reliefs contained in an ex-parte application filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba chose the date on Tuesday after granting accelerated hearing in the appeal marked: SC/CV/180/2026.
The court ordered Mark’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN) to file the appellant’s brief and serve on Wednesday.
It ordered the respondents to each file and serve on the appellant, a respondent’s brief within three days of being served with the appellant’s brief.
The appellant, according to the court, is to file a reply brief, if needs be, within one day of being served with the respondents’ briefs.
Headlines
Amid Denials, ADC Reportedly Secures Rainbow Event Centre As Venue for National Convention
Baring any last minute change, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National chairman and National Secretary respectively will hold the party’s National convention at the National Rainbow Event Centre in Garki on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has being denied two venues without any cogent reasons despite early arrangements, according to sources.
First, it was alleged that the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotels, which was initially approached, turned down the ADC request to use it’s facility.
The ADC, having sensed sabotage, has kept the Rainbow Event Center under rap as it’s definite venue.
The last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was held at the same venue.
Located adjacent the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, the event centre will host the second NEC meeting of the ADC and it’s forthcoming national convention.
According to The Guardian’ report, the ADC leadership has communicated the venue to state chapters with the caveat not to escalate it.
The ADC is in a battle of survival against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has approached the Supreme Court for intervention.
The INEC national chairman Prof Joash Amupitan has suspended recognition of the David Mark-led ADC rendering a leadership vacuum in the party.
INEC said it’s decision was on the basis of an Appeal Court pronouncement that ordered statusquo ante-bellum be maintained.
Reports say that why the venue is being quietly decorated moderately for the event, the ADC intends to fully move in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Guardian
