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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the postponement of the proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise.
This follows a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, on Friday, April 10.
Following deliberations, the Commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election.
A statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner, Chairman, Informationa and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said: “the voter revalidation exercise is a critical component of the Commission’s mandate to maintain a credible and up-to-date National Register of Voters.
Read Also: David Mark-Led ADC Begins Legal Battle Against INEC
“It is designed to verify and review existing voter records, ensure the accuracy of personal data, eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, and strengthen the overall integrity of the voter register.
“The exercise also aims to provide an opportunity for registered voters to confirm their details and make necessary corrections where required.
“INEC remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections.”
The David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to reverse the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which derecognised the party’s leadership.
Mark also asked Justice Emeka Nwite to grant an order of mandatory injunction setting aside INEC’s refusal to attend or monitor the ADC’s congresses or convention, pending the hearing and determination of the instant suit.
He equally sought an order of mandatory injunction directing INEC to forthwith restore and maintain the names of all ADC’s National Working Committee (NWC) in its records and portal, prior to the filing of the suit, and pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Recall that INEC had officially removed the names of Mark (National Chairman) and Rauf Aregbesola (National Secretary) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from its official portal and website on April 1.
The motion on notice, dated and filed on April 7 was filed by Mark’s new lawyer, Sulaiman Usman, SAN.
The motion by the former Senate President, who is the national chairman of ADC, is in reaction to the March 12 Court of Appeal’s judgment in a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe before Justice Nwite.
The motion, which sought three reliefs, was brought pursuant to Order 26, Rules 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019; the inherent jurisdiction of the court and under the equitable jurisdiction of the court to grant injunctive reliefs.
The reliefs sought include; “an order of mandatory injunction, setting aside the decision, act, or directive of the respondent removing the names of the applicant’s National Working Committee from its official portal and the decision of refusal to attend or monitor the applicant’s congresses or convention pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
He sought an order of mandatory injunction, directing INEC to forthwith restore the names of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, as well as all members of the National Executive Committee .
He sought an order restraining INEC from tampering with, or otherwise interfering with the said leadership records of the 1st defendant, recognising or giving effect to any contrary or competing claims, pending the final determination of this suit.”
Giving seven-ground argument why the application should be granted, the lawyer submitted that the Court of Appeal, in its ruling delivered on March 12, ordered the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
