INEC Rejects Court Ruling Directing It To Resume Voters Registration

By Damilare Adeleye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would be constitutionally and legally impossible for it to resume voters registration.

This remark is coming following the ruling of the Federal High Court ordering the commission to resume voters registration until 90 days before the election.

Recall that INEC ended voter registration across the country in July.

The Nigerian Voice had reported yesterday that the judgement was delivered by the court following a summons filed before the court by Anajat Salmat and three others, arguing that INEC can not stop the CVR contrary to the stipulated provisions of the constitution

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, on Tuesday, held that it was the constitutional responsibility of the electoral body to make adequate provisions for the exercise following Nigerian laws.

While reacting to the development, INEC National Commissioner and Director of Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who spoke on Channels TV on Tuesday, said the electoral body is yet to obtain the true certified copies of the court ruling.

Okoye however said, “It would be constitutionally and legally impossible for the Commission to resume the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.”

He further stated that INEC is working on improving the voter registration process for future elections.