EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OF A LEGAL ADVISER TO A POLITICAL PARTY IN ENSURING CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE NIGERIAN ELECTORAL LAWS

Abstract

The legal adviser to a political party plays some critical and important roles in the running of the affairs of the party. One of such role is the responsibility of ensuring that the candidates selected by the party are eligible under the Constitution and the Electoral Act. The legal adviser must interpret the law regarding age limits, residency requirements, and the absence of disqualifications to avoid invalidation of candidacies. Political parties in Nigeria are essential vehicles for political representation, bound by law to function democratically and adhere to regulatory frameworks. Failure to comply with these requirements often leads to legal disputes and sanctions. A legal adviser to a political party plays a significant role and serves as the custodian of the party's legal framework, ensuring that its activities comply with the law to prevent disputes and electoral sanctions. In this article, we examined the basic concepts of the research work, the historical backgrounds and theoretical frameworks. We equally examined in details the role of a legal adviser as it pertains to ensuring candidates eligibility to contest election under the Nigerian electoral laws. Doctrinal research methodology was employed in the course of this work. This research work will open up further discussions on the topic and it will help in strengthening our democracy.