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BREAKING: SERAP, Concerned Nigerians Sue INEC Over Failure To Extend Voter Reg

Published

3 years ago

Jun 5, 2022.

Benard Joseph

SERAP, Concerned Nigerians Sue INEC Over Failure To Extend Voter Reg.
The suit is asking the court for an order to compel INEC to extend voter registration by a minimum of three months.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 185 Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

SERAP is asking the court to “declare unconstitutional, illegal, and incompatible with international standards the failure of the electoral body to extend the deadline for voter registration to allow eligible Nigerians to exercise their rights.”

Following this, the organization is seeking a court order to restrain INEC from suspending the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise across the country.

In the suit FHC/L/CS/1034/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP demands that the INEC decision be declared a violation of eligible Nigerians’ rights to participate in their own government.

The suit is asking the court for an order to compel INEC to extend voter registration by a minimum of three months.

“The extension of voter registration would ensure that Nigerian voters are treated equally and fairly. The future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on it”, it reads.

The applicants insist voters are critical stakeholders in the electoral process and that treating all eligible Nigerian fairly would advance the people’s right to vote.

“INEC must not only be independent and impartial in the exercise of its constitutional and statutory responsibilities but must also be seen to be independent and impartial”, they said.

SERAP and others also want an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies and others from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration pending the hearing and determination of this suit.

FURTHER READING

The suit filed by Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi noted that extending the voter registration exercise would further bolster voter confidence in the electoral process.
The court is expected to fix a date for the hearing this week.

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