Twenty-four Nigerians\u00a0have\u00a0filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for \u201cfailing to give them and other seven million Nigerians adequate time and opportunity to complete their voter registration after they have carried\u00a0out their registration online.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Plaintiffs who are suing for themselves and on behalf of seven million other Nigerians want to \u201ccomplete the registration process, so that they can obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs) and exercise their right to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
INEC recently disclosed that out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who carried out their pre-registration online, only 3,444,378 completed the process at a physical centre. This represents just 32.8 percent of completed online registration.<\/p>\n
But in suit number FHC\/ABJ\/CS\/1662\/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Plaintiffs are seeking \u201can order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to re-activate its continuous voter’s registration exercise to allow the Plaintiffs to complete their registration and collect their Permanent Voters\u2019 Cards (PVCs).\u201d<\/p>\n
The Plaintiffs are also seeking \u201can order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to provide adequate facilities and deploy personnel to the registration units of the Plaintiffs to enable them to complete their registration and collect their PVCs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Plaintiffs are arguing that \u201cWe have completed the online registration exercise. Denying us the time and opportunity to complete the registration for our PVCs would impair our right to vote and deny us a voice in the 2023 elections.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Plaintiffs are also arguing that \u201cThe inability to complete our registration is entirely due to factors outside of our control. We are eligible Nigerians but unless we are given a reasonable time and opportunity to complete the registration process, and obtain our voter cards, we will not be able to vote in the 2023 general elections.\u201d<\/p>\n
The twenty-four Nigerians include Adeeyo Bayo Wasiu; Kunat Tychius Amos; Tagbo Philips Chidubem; Emeghe Uchanma Grace; Ayoola Opeyemi Ebenezer; Eche Onah Otakpa; Olatoye Clement Damilola; and Ogunejiofor Raphael Emeka.<\/p>\n
Others include: Adedotun Adegoke Babatunde; Emmanuel Promise Tochukwu; Emmanuel Ternajev; Joy Oluwadamilola Ige; Lawerence Ignatius; Agbede Kunle; Eze Daniel Ndubisi; and Nkemdilim Agbor Bassey.<\/p>\n
The rest are Omoike Iredia Oseine; Joshua Patrick Ogenekaro; Wisdom Emeka; Ukpe Victor Destiny; Abayomi Opeoluwa; Ndubuisi Anthony Ahanihu; Akande Akintunde O; and Adamma Rhodes.<\/p>\n
The suit filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by lawyers to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms. Adelanke Aremo, read in part: \u201cClosing the gates on eligible Nigerians cannot preserve trust in the electoral process.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to reports, the inability of Nigerians to complete their voters’ registration exercise or even transfer their permanent voters\u2019 card, affected wide spectrums of persons, hence this class action by the identified plaintiffs on behalf of other affected Nigerians.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were reports of incidence of bribery, unethical conducts of INEC staff, registration process marred by irregularities, insufficient machines, malfunctioning of machines, insufficient staff and unskilled staff, before the defendant ended the Continuous Voters Registration Exercise on the 31st of\u00a0July 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe right to vote is not merely the right to cast a ballot but also the right to be given the time and opportunity to complete the registration process so that the right can be meaningfully and effectively exercised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny proffered justifications of saving time and cost are therefore wholly insufficient. Administrative convenience is simply not a compelling justification in light of the fundamental nature of the right to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis severe vote deprivation cannot be justified by any perceived considerations of saving time, especially because Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that \u2018the registration of voters, updating and revision of the Register of Voters shall not stop later than 90 days before any election covered by this Act.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProviding a fresh opportunity for the Plaintiffs and seven million other Nigerians to complete their registration would promote and preserve the right to vote and ensure that legal and eligible voters are not inadvertently and unjustifiably turned away from exercising their fundamental right to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Plaintiffs are Nigerians who commenced the voter’s registration exercises in their respective states via successful online enrolment at the respective dates but could not complete the registration process and obtain their voter’s cards.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plaintiffs also include those who are interested in transferring their permanent voters\u2019 cards to another location so that they can vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Plaintiffs and other eligible Nigerians have the rights to equal treatment before the law, equal protection, non-discrimination, and equal opportunities to participate in the government of Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy refusing the Plaintiffs and seven million other Nigerians the opportunity to complete the registration for their PVCs, INEC has unfairly, unreasonably, and unjustifiably denied them the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner as to the reasons for not completing their registration.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, \u2018the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured by the provisions of this Constitution.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSimilarly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance guarantee the right to political participation, including the right to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), recently disclosed that over seven million Nigerians who carried out their voter pre-registration online could not complete the process at physical centers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to a report released by INEC, out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who carried out their pre-registration online, only 3,444,378 Nigerians representing 32.8 percent, completed the process at a physical centre. 7,043,594 Nigerians carried out their pre-registration but are yet to complete the process at a physical centre.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis represents over 67 percent of those who began their registration process online.\u00a0According to INEC, a total of 12,298,944 Nigerians completed their voter registration; 8,854,566 of which were persons who did their registration entirely at a physical centre.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Plaintiffs and\u00a0seven million other Nigerians\u00a0have already completed their registration online, that is, via INEC online portal by providing their biodata and required documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to INEC, the process that is outstanding for the applicants to complete the registration for their PVCs is to visit INEC designated centers for their biometric to be captured.\u201d<\/p>\n
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Twenty-four Nigerians\u00a0have\u00a0filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for \u201cfailing to give them and other seven million Nigerians adequate time and opportunity to complete their voter registration after they have carried\u00a0out their registration online.\u201d The Plaintiffs who are suing for themselves and on behalf of seven million other Nigerians want to \u201ccomplete […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":206,"featured_media":141738,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[110,2,1],"tags":[163],"yoast_head":"\n