INEC to appeal against verdict ordering it to allow two Nigerians vote without PVCs
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will appeal a court judgement granting the request of two plaintiffs to use their temporary voter cards (TVCs).
The two plaintiffs involved are Kofoworola Olusegun and Wilson Allwell, who in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/180/2023 and filed on February 8, had challenged INEC on the position that only a permanent voter card (PVC) can be used in an election.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement on Thursday, expressed the intention of the commission to approach the appellate court.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been served a copy of the judgement delivered today by the Federal High Court, Abuja Division which ordered it to allow two Plaintiffs to vote with their Temporary Voter’s Card (TVC),” the statement read.
“The Commission is taking immediate steps to appeal against the judgement of the trial court.”
Justice Obiora Egwuatu had given the order allowing the use of the TVCs while delivering Judgement in a suit filed by two concerned Nigerians seeking the use of TVCs in the general elections in the absence of permanent voter cards (PVCs).
Justice Egwuatu said the order was made on the grounds that the plaintiffs were duly registered and captured in INEC’S database.
The court, however, added that it was unable to grant prayer three which was to allow every eligible voter with a TVC to vote because the suit was not filed in a representative capacity.
