Voter’s Registration: INEC Must Immediately Comply With Court Order – SERAP

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately comply with the court order barring it from ending voter’s registration exercise.

 

Newsonline reports that SERAP has demanded immediate compliance with the court order given on Monday, barring the electoral commission from closing the voter’s registration exercise on June 30.

 

“INEC must immediately comply with the order of Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja stopping it from ending voter registration,” SERAP said.

 

INEC had said it would close the voter’s registration exercise on June 5, to ensure efficient preparation for the 2023 general election.

 

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SERAP and 185 concerned Nigerians following the decision of the electoral commission arguing that many Nigerians will be disenfranchised by the commission’s action.

 

In the suit, SERAP prayed 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.”

 

In the suit, SERAP and 185 Nigerians argued, ” whether the failure of INEC to extend the deadline for voter registration isn’t a violation of Nigerian Constitution, 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act, and international standards.”

 

After hearing the argument, on Monday, Honorable Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, of a Federal High Court in Abuja, granted the order of interim injunction sought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP.