Concerns Over Section 134(3) of Nigeria's Electoral Act

The article examines Section 134(3) of the 2022 Electoral Act (EA) in Nigeria, which addresses the qualifications and disqualifications of candidates for elections. It critiques the proposal to delete this section, arguing that it could undermine the ability to challenge candidates who may not meet constitutional qualifications, such as those with forged certificates.

The author emphasizes that the Electoral Act should improve upon, rather than remove, this provision to ensure that unsuitable candidates can be weeded out. It highlights the legal burden of proof required to substantiate allegations of forgery, referencing several Supreme Court cases, including ACN v.

Lamido and Okon v. PDP, which illustrate the challenges faced in proving such claims.

The article concludes that the current provisions may not effectively address the issue of candidates presenting forged certificates and calls for a more robust framework to uphold electoral integrity.