LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said it would be constitutionally and legally impossible to resume voter registration before the 2023 elections.
INEC had in July suspended the CVR after a one-month extension following the Federal High Court’s dismissal of a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which sought an extension of the exercise beyond 30 June, 2022.
On Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered INEC to immediately resume Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) until 90 days before the 2023 general elections.
Delivering judgement, Justice Ekwo also directed INEC to ensure that eligible Nigerians are not deprived the opportunity to have the voters’ cards for the forthcoming poll.
He held that it was the constitutional responsibility of the electoral umpire to make adequate provision for the exercise in accordance with the Nigerian laws.
One Anajat Salmat and three others had sued INEC arguing that the electoral body cannot stop the voter registration contrary to the stipulated provisions of the constitution.
They urged the court to order the electoral umpire to resume the exercise in accordance with the law of the country.
However, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, INEC National Commissioner and Director of Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said the commission was yet to obtain the true certified copies of the court ruling.
Mr Okoye also suggested that voter registration ahead of the 2023 elections was moreorless over.
“It would be constitutionally and legally impossible for the Commission to resume the Continuous Voter Registration exercise,” Mr Okoye said.
He also noted that INEC was working on improving the voter registration process for future elections.