INEC says it’s ‘legally impossible’ and mobilising resources to resume is ‘next to impossible’
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
It is “constitutionally and legally impossible” to resume voter registration four months out from the 2023 ballot, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained in its reaction to the court order directing it to do so.
INEC spokesperson Festus Okoye cited the challenges of resources and mobilisation of security personnel as factors that will hinder resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) which ended in June in this electoral cycle.
“It would be constitutionally and legally impossible for the Commission to resume the continuous voter registration [CVR] exercise,” Okoye argued on Channels Television.
An Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday ordered INEC to resume voter registration in a ruling by Justice Inyang Ekwo who said registration ought to last until 90 days before the 2023 general election.
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Near impossibilities
Ekwo made the ruling in a suit filed by Anajat Salmat and three others who argued INEC cannot stop continuous voter registration before the time stipulated by law, according to reporting by The Guardian.
The judge agreed with the plaintiffs and ordered INEC not to deprive citizens of the opportunity to have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the election.
“The case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” the judge declared.
But Okoye clarified that while INEC will “abide [by] and obey judgments and orders from properly constituted courts of law”, it is unrealistic to resume the CVR.
“Realistically, it will be next to impossible for the Commission to mobilise the necessary resources to go back and start the CVR.
“Second, realistically, it will be next to impossible to mobilise the number of personnel required to carry out the exercise.
“It will also be next to impossible to mobilise the number of security personnel that will be required to continue the CVR.”
