There is an election … pending against the senator.

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "There is an election ___ pending against the senator." We need a word that fits with "election" and "pending against" someone, which suggests a legal or formal challenge to the result of an election.

Explain the concept

In Nigerian political and legal English, when a candidate or party challenges the outcome of an election, they file an election petition at an Election Petition Tribunal. This is a fixed collocation: "election petition."

Step-by-step elimination

• A. application: This is a general request (e.g., for a job or admission). "Election application" is not a standard phrase.
• B. appeal: An appeal is made to a higher court against a court's decision. It can be pending, but "election appeal" is not the usual phrase for the initial challenge to a senator's victory.
• C. petition: A formal written request or complaint to a tribunal or court. "Election petition" is the standard term, and it is commonly "pending" before a tribunal.
• D. complaint: This is too general and informal. It is not the usual legal term for challenging an election.

Answer

The correct word is petition, which is option C.

Tip

Learn common collocations, since WASSCE English often tests them: election petition, file a petition, pending before the tribunal. When a question mentions an election being challenged against a winner, think "petition."