2023 Elections: Court orders INEC to resume Voter Registration

With 94 days to the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission now has 4 days to continue with the earlier suspended Continuous Voters Registration.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court today ordered the Commission to immediately resume the exercise until 90 days before the polls in order to ensure that all eligible Nigerians have the opportunity to have their voters card in time for the elections.

In his judgment, Justice Ekwo held that it was the constitutional responsibility of the electoral umpire to make adequate provision for the exercise in accordance with the Nigerian laws.

In the originating summons filed before the court, Anajat Salmat and three others had argued that INEC, the sole defendant in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1343/2022, cannot stop the CVR contrary to the stipulated provisions of the constitution.

Recall that upon the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration on July 31, 12.29 million Nigerians had successfully completed their registrations as new voters.

Prior to the deadline, Nigerians had called on INEC to give them more time to register.