Politics
Court Orders INEC To Respond To Suit Over Temporary Voter’s Card
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to respond to a fresh suit seeking to compel it to allow registered voters that were unable to collect their Permanent Voters Card, PVC, before the expiration of the deadline, to participate in the forthcoming general elections.
The suit was brought before the court by two aggrieved registered voters, Kofoworola Olusegun and Wilson Allwell, who lamented that despite their effort and repeated visits to INEC office, they were unable to obtain their PVCs before the February 6 deadline.
The plaintiffs are praying the court to intervene by directing the electoral body to permit eligible electorates with the Temporary Voters Card, to vote in the elections.
INEC was cited as the sole defendant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/180/2023.
In an affidavit of urgency they filed before the court, the duo maintained that the suit, if not quickly heard and decided, “the plaintiffs and numerous voters will be disenfranchised by the actions or inactions of the defendant”.
Specifically, the plaintiffs, through their lawyer, Mr. Opatola Victor, are praying the court to among other things, determine; “Whether by the true construction and interpretation of section 10(2) and 12(1) of Electoral Act 2022 and section 77(2) and 132(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), an eligible voter upon fulfilling all necessary requirements provided therein, is registered and whose name appears in the electronic format of the defendant’s central database and manual, printed paper based record or hard copy format of the Register of Voters and has assigned a Voter’s Identification Number (VIN), can be said to be entitled to a voter’s card for the purpose of voting in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections.
“Whether by the true construction and interpretation of section 10(2), 12(1) and 47 of the Electoral Act 2022; Section 77(2) and 132(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and bearing in mind that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machine introduced by the defendant only needs the thumbprint and/or facial recognition to accredit a voter, a person whose name appears in the electronic format in the defendant’s central database and manual, printed paper based record or hard copy format of the Register of Voters and has been assigned a Voter’s Identification Number (VIN), can be said to be entitled to be accredited to vote with his/her Temporary Voter’s Card, in the forthcoming General Electlon to be conducted by the defendant”.
As well as, “Whether by the true construction and interpretation of section 10(2), 12(1) and 47 of the Electoral Act 2022; Section 77(2) and 132(5) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), the plaintiffs, bearing in mind that the BVAS Machine (Bimodal Voters Accreditation System) introduced by the defendant only needs the thumbprint and/or facial recognition to accredit a person whose name appears in its central database and manual, printed paper based record or hard copy format and has been assigned a Voter’s Identification Number (VIN); and as a consequence of the defendant’s inabilities, actions and omission, be disenfranchised of the right and entitlement to vote in the forthcoming 2023 General”.
Upon determination of the questions, they urged the court to declare that having fulfilled all necessary legal requirements to register and having been captured in INEC’s central database, they are entitled to vote, using the temporary voter’s card.
They further applied for an order compelling the defendant to allow them to vote with the temporary voter’s card.
Meanwhile, following the affidavit of urgency attached to the suit, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered service of all the processes on INEC to enable it to appear on Tuesday to respond to the reliefs the plaintiffs are seeking from the court.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.