2023: INEC Extends Deadline For Collection Of PVCs, Reveals New Date

2023: Ozekhome, Sani Drags INEC To Court Over Voters’ Registration

by Victor Ndubuisi
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In Abuja, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been sued by human rights attorneys Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Abubakar Sani.

According to Anaedoonline.ng, INEC was sued over its choice to halt the Continuous Voter’s Registration (CVR).

Ozekhome and Sani urged the court in the lawsuit with the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/1335/2022 to order the electoral authority to prolong the continuous voter registration until November 27, which is the deadline for registering voters before the 2023 general election.

2023: Peter Obi Group Drags INEC To Court Over Suspension Of Voters Registration

Millions of eligible and potential voters would lose their right to vote if the CVR was suspended on July 31, 2022, more than six months before the general elections, according to the duo.

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The plaintiffs argued that INEC’s actions were in direct violation of sections 9(6), 10(1), and 12(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates a 90-day window before the next election before the exercise is stopped.

According to Anaedoonline.ng, Ozekhome and Sani asked the court to decide on five questions.

These include: “Whether having regard to the combined provisions of sections 9(6) and 10(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandates the defendant (INEC), to continue registration of voters up to 90 days to the date of the election, the defendant can stop or terminate the registration of eligible voters on July 31, 2022, which is more than six months to the next general election scheduled to commence of February 25, 2023?

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“Whether having regard to the combined provisions of sections 77(2) and 78 of the 1999 Constitution, section 12(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the defendant can refuse or decline to register a citizen of Nigeria who has attained the age of 18 years and presented himself to the defendant for registration before 90 days to the scheduled 2023 general elections?”

Although a hearing date has not been set, the lawsuit is backed by an affidavit of urgency in which the defendant stated that they made many unsuccessful attempts to register themselves as eligible voters for the 2023 election.

 

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