2023 election: Court orders INEC to resume voters’ registration

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resume the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise.

Justice Inyang Ekwo said the voters’ registration ought to last until 90 days before the 2023 general election.

In a suit filed by one Anajat Salmat and three others, the plaintiff argued that INEC cannot stop the continuous voter registration before the time stipulated by law.

Justice Ekwo agreed with the plaintiffs and ordered the electoral umpire not to deprive citizens of the opportunity to have their voter cards for the forthcoming poll.

“The case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” the judge declared.

INEC launched an online voters’ registration portal in June 2021 for Nigerians to register and request to update their voter information before they complete the process physically at designated centres.

The commission fixed June 30 as the initial deadline for the CVR ahead of the 2023 elections.

However, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 185 other individuals approached a court to seek an extension for voters’ registration.

The court ordered INEC to extended the voter registration till July 31.

INEC has not reacted to Tuesday’s court ruling ordering it to resume voters’ registration at the time of filing this report.