INEC has been prosecuted by 7 million Nigerians over unsuccessful voter registration

Twenty-four Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for “failing to give them and other seven million Nigerians adequate time and opportunity to complete their voter registration after they have carried out their registration online.”

The Plaintiffs, who are suing for themselves and on behalf of seven million other Nigerians, are seeking to “complete the registration process, so that they can obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs), and exercise their right to vote.”

INEC had recently revealed that out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who carried out their pre-registration online, only 3,444,378 completed the process at a physical centre.

This represents just 32.8 percent of completed online registration.

But in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1662/2022 filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, last Friday, the Plaintiffs are seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to re-activate its continuous voters registration exercise to allow the Plaintiffs to complete their registration and collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).”

They are also arguing that, “The inability to complete our registration is entirely due to factors outside of our control.”

The twenty-four Nigerians include: Ayoola Opeyemi Ebenezer; Eche Onah Otakpa; Olatoye Clement Damilola; Adeeyo Bayo Wasiu; Kunat Tychius Amos; Emeghe Uchanma Grace; Ogunejiofor Raphael Emeka, Tagbo Philips Chidubem.

Others include: Emmanuel Promise Tochukwu; Emmanuel Ternajev, Adedotun Adegoke Babatunde, Nkemdilim Agbor Bassey, Joy Oluwadamilola Ige; Lawerence Ignatius; Agbede Kunle and Eze Daniel Ndubisi.

Others are: Omoike Iredia Oseine; Ndubuisi Anthony Ahanihu; Akande Akintunde O; Adamma Rhodes, Joshua Patrick Ogenekaro; Wisdom Emeka; Ukpe Victor Destiny and Abayomi Opeoluwa.

The suit was filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by lawyers to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare and Adelanke Aremo, partly read: “Closing the gates on eligible Nigerians cannot preserve trust in the electoral process.”