Ozekhome drags INEC to court over termination of voters registration exercise

A constitutional lawyer and right activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the stoppage of the voters registration exercise in July 31.

He filed the suit together with another lawyer, Abubakar Sani as second plaintiff.

In the suit, they sought a mandatory injunction compelling the INEC to extend the continuous voters registration exercises until the stipulated 90 days to the elections as provided by sections 9 (6), 10 (1), and 12 (1) of the Electoral 2022.

In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/15/1335/2022, the plaintiffs in their originating summons formulated four questions for determination by the court and the event of favourable determination sought, a declaration that,” the defendant cannot purport to terminate the continuous voter’s registration exercise on July 31, 2022, more than six months to the next general election scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023, as doing so would disenfranchised millions of eligible potential voters, including the 2nd plaintiff, Sani.” 

According to the plantiffs, the stoppage of the continues voter’s registration by the defendant on July 31, 2022, which is more than six months to the next general elections scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023 contrary to the provisions of section 77 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, sections 9 (6), 10 (1), and 12 (2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Article 13 (1) of the African Charter on human and Peoples Right, (ratification & enforcement) Act, Cap. A9 LFN 2004, is, therefore, ultra vires, invalid, null and void. 

“Having regard to the provisions of section 77 (2) of the Constitution of Nigeria, section 12(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Article 13 (1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right, (Ratification & Enforcement) Act, Cap. As LFN, 2004, the defendant cannot refuse or decline to register any eligible citizen of Nigeria that has attained the age of 18 years, and who intends to present himself to the defendant for registration 90 days before the general elections in 2023. 

“Defendant can only stop the continuous registration of voters 90 days before the next general elections scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023, (on or before November 27, 2022). 

“A declaration (that the stoppage of the continuous voter’s registration by the defendant on July 31, 2022, amounts to disenfranchisement of citizens who have attained or will attain the age of 18 years before November 28, 2022 being 90 days to the date of the general elections,” they prayed.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the suit.