Court to deliver judgment in suit seeking to stop INEC from dis-enfranchising voters Jan. 30

The Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Jan. 30 to deliver judgment in a suit seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from dis-enfranchising eligible voters in the forthcoming general elections.

Justice Binta Nyako fixed the date on Monday after counsel in the matter adopted their written addresses.

The Incorporated Trustees of International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Mr Emmanuel Chukwuka and Mr Bruno Okeahialam dragged the commission to court on the grounds that there were plans to disenfranchise some eligible voters.

The plaintiffs, in their suit, asked the court to determine whether INEC could, as a consequence of its own contraption, disenfranchise or deprive Nigerians the right or opportunity to vote in the forthcoming general election.

This, they said was having regards to the true intention of Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2022, the plaintiffs asked the court to declare that, having been duly registered, they should be able to vote.

Arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs, Mr Max Uzoaka prayed the court to declare that all persons who were registered with INEC as voters and whose names were contained in its voters register should not be deprived the right to vote in the election.

“Having been registered and captured in the INEC register of voters and electronic database of registered voters, we and the persons we represent in the suit are entitled to vote in the February and March general elections.”

Ozoaka told the court that he had attached a newspaper publication as exhibit to his amended originating summons.

He pointed the court to the paragraph where INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu acknowledged that INEC facilities were attacked and burnt.

“The INEC Chairman acknowledged that the situation of insecurity in some offices of the commission gave rise to the lose of Permanent Voter Cards, (PVCs) of several defendants.”