Court refuses application to stop INEC from use of card readers

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused an application filed by four political parties seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from using electronic card readers in the coming general elections.

The parties are Alliance for Democracy, United Democratic Party, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria and Action Alliance.

The presidential and national assembly elections hold on March 28 while those of governorship and State Houses of Assembly come up April 11.

The parties filed the application through their counsel, Alex Iziyon, and two others, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN.

Mr. Iziyon told the court that the plan to use the card readers contravened provisions of the 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act.

He contended that the Commission lacked the power to introduce card readers at this point since it is not specifically provided for in Nigerian laws.

Mr. Iziyon told the court that the National Assembly enacted the Electoral Act to govern the conduct of polls in the country and that while the Act is the head, the INEC is the body of the Nigeria’s electoral process.

He further contended that the body could not be important than the head.

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