2023: Nigerians In Diaspora Drag Buhari, INEC, Others To Court Over Voters’ Registration

Some Nigerians in the diaspora have dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and it’s Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria to court over their exclusion in the voters register ahead of the 2023 general election.

Naija News reports that these Nigerians living in the United Kingdom and various parts if the world in a suit marked FHC/ ABJ/ CS/2119/2022, are praying the court to stop President Buhari and INEC from further proceeding with the 2023 electioneering process until INEC’s voter register and bio-data base are updated to accommodate them as registered voters.

They said it was their fundamental rights to vote in the 2023 general elections, therefore INEC has to include them in the register voter to enable them exercise their civic rights at the polls next year and every other time no matter where they are in the world.

The suit, which was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs, Barrister Chikwe Nkemnacho and Kenneth Azubuike Nkemnacho, who both lives in the United Kingdom by Augustine Temfeh-Nkemnachob has prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare that they are entitled to participate in the electoral process by being registered to vote in 2023 and in all elections wherever they are domiciled worldwide in line with sections 13, 14, 42 and 17 of the 1999 Constitution.

The plaintiffs said they instituted the suit on behalf of other Nigerians in the diaspora worldwide.

They also prayed the court to declare that there is still sufficient time for INEC to comply with provisions of sections 13, 14 and 15 of the 1999 Constitution, noting that unless they are allowed to vote in the 2023 elections and subsequent ones, their fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution would be grossly violated.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo billed to hear the suit has fixed January 19, 2023, for its mention and to allow the defendants file their respective responses.

The four defendants in the suit are INEC, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.