Nigerians living in the United Kingdom and various parts of the world who have attained voting age have dragged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the Independent National Electoral Commission to a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking enforcement of their fundamental rights to vote in the 2023 general elections.
The plaintiffs, in the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/ CS/2119/2022, are asking the court to stop Buhari and INEC from further proceeding with the 2023 elections until the commission’s voter register and bio-data base were updated to accommodate them as registered voters.
According to the court processes obtained by journalists on Tuesday, the plaintiffs in the suit are Chikwe Nkemnacho and Kenneth Azubuike Nkemnacho, both residents of the UK but instituted the suit on behalf of other Nigerians in the diaspora.
The plaintiffs in the suit filed on their behalf by Augustine Temfeh-Nkemnacho, are asking the court 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 were domiciled worldwide in line with Sections 13, 14, 42 and 17 of the 1999 constitution.
They also sought another declaration by the court to the effect that there is still sufficient time for INEC to comply with provisions of Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the 1999 Constitution.
The plaintiffs canvassed 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 Ekwo, billed to hear the suit, has fixed January 19, 2023, for its mention and to allow the defendants to file their respective responses.
The four defendants in the suit are INEC, the chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Buhari and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as first to fourth defendants respectfully.
