What Happens if a Nominated Candidate Dies Before the Election?

What happens if a nominated candidate dies before the elections? 

The 2023 General Elections is only a few months away. There are chances that you have certain questions concerning voting and the electoral process. For this reason, The Republic has started an explainer series leading to the forthcoming elections. This series will respond to frequently asked questions by you, the electorate.

So, what happens if a nominated candidate dies before the election?

Section 34 (1)and (3) of the Electoral Act 2022 offers alternatives to the electoral process in the event that a nominated candidate dies.  The Act says;

1. If a nominated candidate dies before the elections begin, the elections will be rescheduled within 14 days, by the chief national electoral commissioner of INEC.

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2. If the candidate dies after the elections have begun, but the final result has not been announced, the Commission will suspend the election for a period of not more than 21 days.

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3. In the case of a presidential or governorship candidate, the running mate will continue with the election and nominate a new running mate.

4. In the case of election into a Legislative House, the election will start afresh and the political party whose candidate died may conduct a fresh primary within 14 days of the death and submit the name of a new candidate to the Commission.

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Do you have any questions regarding the 2023 elections? If so, now is your chance to get some answers, courtesy of The Republic.

Please leave any questions you have in the comments below or email us at [email protected]. Our editors will answer your questions ahead of the 2023 elections.

Remember, there are no ‘dumb questions’!

Recommended Reading

Here are some Republic articles to read for more context on the 2023 General Elections:

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The Road to 2023
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‘Obidience’ or Sacrifice
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The Umpire’s New Clothes

The views, thoughts, and opinions published in The Republic belong solely to the author and are not necessarily the views of The Republic or its editors. We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editors by writing to [email protected].