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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately resume the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise until 90 days before the 2023 general elections.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order in a judgement delivered on Tuesday.
He also directed INEC to ensure that eligible Nigerians were not deprived the opportunity to have their voter card for the forthcoming elections.
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.
“The case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” the judge declared,” the judge said.
One Anajat Salmat and three others had dragged INEC before the court after the commission stopped CVR claiming it already had a time table for the elections.
In the originating summons filed before the court, the plaintiffs argued that INEC cannot stop the CVR 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 laws of the country.
(NAN)