Two UK diasporans drag Buhari and Inec to court seeking the right to vote in 2023 elections

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) have been dragged before an Abuja high court by two Nigerians resident in the UK who are seeking to get voting rights extended to diasporans.

In the first such suit of its kind, Barrister Chikwe Nkemnacho and Kenneth Azubuike Nkemnacho, both UK residents, have instituted the suit on behalf of other Nigerians in the diaspora worldwide. They are seeking the enforcement of their fundamental rights to vote in the 2023 general elections.

They are praying the court stops President Buhari and Inec from further proceeding with the 2023 electioneering process until the voters register is updated to accommodate them as registered voters. In the suit filed by Augustine Temfeh-Nkemnacho, they are praying the court to declare that they are entitled to participate in the electoral process in all elections wherever they are domiciled worldwide, in line with sections 13, 14, 42 and 17 of the 1999 constitution.

Also, the plaintiffs are seeking 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. They claim 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 Edem Ekwo billed to hear the suit, has fixed January 19, 2023, for its mention and to allow the defendants file their respective responses. The four defendants in the suit are Inec, the Inec chairman, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.