Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over its refusal to extend the continuous voters registration exercise which was ended on 31st July, 2022.
In an Originating Summons filed at the Federal High Court Abuja, Chief Ozekhome is seeking among others, a Mandatory Injunction compelling INEC to extend the continuous voters registration till 27th November, 2022 which is 90 days prior to the election as provided for by law.
Ozekhome filed the suit with Abubakar Damisa Sani as co Plaintiff while INEC is sued as the sole Defendant.
Other reliefs sought by the Plaintiffs includes a declaration of the court that stopping the continuous voters registration is ultra vires, invalid, null and void.
In his affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, Chief Ozekhome informed the court that the stoppage of the registration will disenfranchise many Nigerians who were not able to get their voters card within the time frame set out by INEC. Attached as exhibits to the affidavit are various statistics taken of eligible voters lamenting the inadequacy of INEC registration materials and many others.
Recall that in an interview with Channels Television on 5th of August, INEC had through its Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mike Igini indicated that it cannot extend the registration exercise as such extension would jeopardize its preparedness for the February, 2023 National election.
Chief Ozekhome’s suit is yet to be assigned to a judge.
Below are the court papers:
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