Breaking: Court stops INEC from ending voter registration

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from ending voter registration on 30 June 2022 as earlier scheduled.

Honourable Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon  on Monday granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

Earlier this month, SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians had filed the lawsuit against INEC, 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.”

The suit followed the decision of INEC  to extend the deadline for the conduct of primaries election by political parties by 6 days from June 3rd June to 9th June 2022.

In the suit, SERAP had asked the court for “an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies, assigns, or any other person(s) claiming through it from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration exercise from the June 30 2022 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The organization is also asking the court for “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to extend voter registration by a minimum of three months and take effective measures to ensure that eligible Nigerians are able to register to exercise their right to vote in the 2023 general elections.”

The suit is adjourned to June 29, 2022, for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

SERAP in a tweet via its official Twitter handle wrote “BREAKING: Following a suit by SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja has stopped INEC from ending voter registration.

Ifunanya Ikueze

Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.