2023: The court declines to direct INEC to restart the CVR

Yesterday, an Abuja Federal High Court declined to order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to start the continuous voter registration (CVR) process again.

According to a ruling by Justice Inyang Ekwo, INEC would have had “just a few days away from 90 days before the general elections” as of the date of the verdict.

On the other hand, Justice Ekwo stated that INEC “is expected pursuant to the provisions of Sections 76 (2), 77 (2), 116 (2), 117 (2), 132 (2) & (5) and 178 (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Sections 9 (1), 9 (6), 10 (1) and 12 (1) of the Electoral Acts, 2022, to continue voters registration, update and revision of voters register until 90 days before

“It is the constitutional responsibility of the defendant (INEC) to make sure that every prospective Nigerian voter who have shown desire to register to vote are not deprived, their civil right to register and participate in the forthcoming general elections scheduled to take place on 25th February, 2023 and 11th March, 2023.”

According to Justice Ekwo,  “this court is unable to grant relief number 3 of the plaintiffs because going by the date of this judgement, from the date of this judgement, the defendant will have just a few days away from 90 days before the general elections of 25th February, 2023 and 11th March, 2023.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), INEC was sued on July 31 by four plaintiffs: Anajat Salmat, Mr. Earnest Stanley, Charles Okafor, and Mr. Samuel Oluwakemi.

The only defendant in the action with the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1343/2022 was INEC.

The plaintiffs had asked the court for three reliefs, including “a declaration that the defendant is expected to continue voter registration, update, and revision of voters register until 90 days before the general election in accordance with the provisions of Sections 76 (2), 77 (2), 116 (2), 117 (2), 132 (2) & (5), and 178 (2) & (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Sections 9 (1), 9 (6), 10 (1), and 12

“A declaration that it is the constitutional responsibility of the defendant to make sure that every prospective Nigerian voter who have shown desire to register to vote are not deprived their civil right to register and participate in the forthcoming general elections.

“An order of court directing the defendant to resume immediately the registration of new voters, updating and revision of the register of voters until at least 90 days to the general election slated to hold on 5th February, 2023 and 11th March, 2023.”

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