An Abuja division of the Federal High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resume the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise.
Judge Inyang Ekwo gave the order Tuesday when ruling on an application filed in court by four Nigerians.
The judge held that the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise should not be suspended until 90 days before the 2023 election as provided by law.
The position of the court: Judge Ekwo ordered INEC not to deprive eligible citizens of the opportunity to have their voter cards for the upcoming elections.
He said it was INEC’s constitutional responsibility to make proper provisions for the exercise in accordance with Nigerian laws. Accordingly, it ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, saying “the plaintiffs’ cause prospers on the merits.”
The backstory: INEC had first set June 30 as the deadline for the closure of the CVR, but extended the deadline to July 31. In a lawsuit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1343/2022, Anajat Salmat and three other people went to court arguing that the electoral management body should not stop the CVR before the time stipulated by law.