Election Guidelines: Federal High Court Hears Suit Against INEC Today

The Federal High Court in Abuja will today, Tuesday, hear a suit instituted by about 61 political parties against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the commission’s recently released guidelines for the 2019 general elections.

The Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) which makes up the 61 political parties had filed a motion seeking for Injunction to restrain INEC from using the guideline in the upcoming elections.

The committee accused INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, of doctoring the original INEC elections guideline by inserting “obnoxious and illegal clauses” into it.

The political parties are asking the Federal High Court to mandate INEC to maintain status quo pending the outcome of its suit against the electoral body.

IPAC’s spokesman who is also the National Chairman of Action Peoples Party, Imo Ugochinyere, had said on Monday:

“The suit which have an ex parte application is expected to be heard tomorrow (Tuesday) and is seeking for an injunction stopping INEC from giving further effect to the controversial document called 2019 election guideline which has contents which are in conflict with the Constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act.

“Of particular interests are the clauses that allowed fake voters to vote in the 2019 general elections and the provisions doctoring the 2011 and 2015 separate accreditation and separate voting system.

“The INEC chairman is trying to change this few days to the national election in violation of all known laws and regulations including the ECOWAS Protocol which has been domesticated in Nigeria.

“The suit which was filed today (Monday) with suit number FHC/ABJ/C5/31/2019 by the Chairman of Action People Party (Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere), Action Alliance Party, Green Party of Nigeria and Restoration Party of Nigeria for others is seen as the last hope for Nigerian electorate who are desirous of having free and fair elections.

“Credible elections start with having a guideline which promotes atmosphere and foundation for free polls and not the controversial guideline which is now seen by many as rigging manual drafted in Aso Rock and handed over to Amina Zakari to foist on political parties and Nigerian electorate.”

Meanwhile, INEC on Monday released a 33 page “amended” regulations and guidelines for the conduct of the general elections.

The Commission said Smart Card Readers (SCRs) and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be used for the elections.

“Voting shall be in accordance with the Continuous Accreditation and Voting System (CAVS) procedures as specified in these Regulations and Guidelines, the Election Manual and any other Guide issued by the Commission,” the document partly read.

“No person shall be allowed to vote at any Polling Unit/Voting Point Settlement/Voting Point other than the one at which his/her name appears in the Register of Voters and he/she presents his/her permanent voter’s card to be verified by the Smart Card Reader (SCR), or as otherwise determined by the Commission,” it read.