The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify, within 90 days, its officials involved in registering underage voters.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in his judgment, also mandated that the culprits be produced and handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation and possible prosecution.
The court further issued a mandatory order requiring INEC to promptly expunge the names of all underage voters from its national voter register as identified and compiled by the plaintiff. The plaintiff, Rev. Mike Agbon, had filed the originating summons questioning the constitutionality and legality of INEC’s conduct during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process.
Justice Egwuatu answered the six questions posed by the plaintiff in the affirmative, emphasizing INEC’s constitutional and legal obligation to conduct a credible CVR and act in strict compliance with the provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022. The court deemed it illegal and unlawful for INEC to register infants and toddlers under Section 23 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
In response to the plaintiff’s demands, the court ordered INEC to identify, produce, and hand over its officials involved in the registration of underage voters for investigation and prosecution within one month. Additionally, INEC is obligated to furnish the plaintiff with a certified true copy of the cleaned-up national voters’ register within 90 days. Alternatively, the commission is directed to publish the cleaned-up national voters’ register on its website within the same timeframe.
The judgment aims to address concerns about the registration of underage voters and ensure the integrity of the voter registration process in Nigeria.
