DO YOU KNOW THE ELECTION OFFENCES AND PENALTIES OF INEC NIGERIA

DO YOU KNOW THE ELECTION OFFENCES AND PENALTIES OF INEC ( Independent National Electoral Commission.) NIGERIA

             Written by: Suleiman A Gamawa


 Since election is approaching us in a highly speed of 24hours per day. We need to know some of the rules and regulation of Election organized by Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) Nigeria in order to have a peaceful transparent free and fair election. And this can only be possible if we can obey the law set by INEC. Before we go straight to the Election Offenses and their Penalties we need to understand some terms:

BRIFE INTRODUCTION
ELECTION; is a process in which people vote to choose a person or group of people to hold an official position.

ELECTION; OFFENCE is a crime that breaks electoral laws and requires a particular punishment.

PENALTY; is a punishment that is given to someone for doing something which is against a law or rule.


        THE RULES OF ELECTION

 They're (13) Rules guiding the electoral process and if anyone violates these rules is liable on conviction to be penalized as indicated below:



ELECTION OFFENCE
1. A person who is in possession of more than one valid voter’s card.

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of 100,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.


ELECTION OFFENCE
2. A person who applies for ballot paper in the name of some other person whether living or dead i.e. impersonation.

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a fine of 500,000.00 or 12 months imprisonment or both.


ELECTION OFFENCE
3. A person who votes more than once in an election.

 PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a fine of 500,000.00 or 12 months imprisonment or both.


ELECTION OFFENCE
4. A person who forges any ballot paper or official mark on any ballot paper or any certificate of return or result form.

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to 2 years imprisonment.


ELECTION OFFENCE
5. A person who willfully places in any ballot box any unauthorized paper or result

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to 2 years imprisonment.


ELECTION OFFENCE
6. A person who gives voters money to vote for or refrain from voting for a candidate.

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a fine of 100,000.00 0r 12 months imprisonment or both.


ELECTION OFFENCE
7. A person who within the vicinity of polling unit or collation centre on election day: *convenes public meeting. * makes unauthorized official announcements; *wears or carry any badge, poster, banner, flag or symbol relating to a political party or election.

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a fine of 100,000.00 or 6 months imprisonment for every such offence.


ELECTION OFFENCE
8. A person who acts or incites others to act in a disorderly manner on election day.

   PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a fine of 500,000.00 or 12 months imprisonment or both.


ELECTION OFFENCE
9. A person who communicates at any time to other person, information obtained in a polling unit as to the candidate to whom a voter is about to vote or has voted for i.e. violation of the secrecy of vote

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a fine of 100,000.00 or 6 months imprisonment or both.


ELECTION OFFENCE
10. A person who knowingly votes or attempts to vote in a constituency in which he did not register.

 PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a fine of 100,000.00 or 6 months imprisonment or both.


ELECTION OFFENCE
11. A person who snatches or destroys election materials.

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to 24 months imprisonment.


ELECTION OFFENCE
12. A person who commits an offence of bribery or aids, conspires or abets any other person to commit bribery.

  PENALITY
 He is liable on conviction to a fine of 500,000.00 or 12 months imprisonment or both.


ELECTION OFFENCE
13. A person who on election day does any of the following acts: *canvasses for votes *solicits for the vote of any other voter. *persuades any voter not to vote for any particular candidate. *shouts slogans concerning the election. *be in possession of any offensive weapon or wears any dress or facial decoration.

   PENALITY
 to He is liable on conviction to a fine of 100,000.00 or 6 months imprisonment for every such



REMARK
Every registrant with a valid voter’s card is eligible to vote.


                               By: Suleiman Gamawa