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Nigerians in diaspora drag Buhari to court, demand suspension of 2023 elections

Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom and around the world have sued President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly infringing upon their fundamental rights to vote.

The Nigerian nationals of voting age dragged Buhari and INEC before a Federal Capital Territory High Court to demand that the 2023 general election be stopped from holding until they are permitted to vote from wherever they are domiciled in the world.

They prayed the court to prevent the elections from further proceeding until INEC’S voter register and bio-data base are updated to accommodate them as registered voters.

INEC, the Chairman of INEC, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria were cited as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

The plaintiffs, in the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/ CS/2119/2022 are Barrister Chikwe Nkemnacho and Kenneth Azubuike Nkemnacho, who both live in the UK.

Augustine Temfeh-Nkemnacho, a relative to the plaintiffs filed the suit on behalf of them and other Nigerians in the diaspora.

They prayed the court to declare that all Nigerians living abroad are entitled to participate in the electioneering process by being registered to vote in 2023 and in all future elections in line with sections 13, 14, 42 and 17 of the 1999 Constitution.

Another declaration sought by the plaintiffs was to the effect that there is still sufficient time for the electoral body to comply with provisions of sections 13, 14 and 15 of the 1999 Constitution.

The judge, Inyang Edem Ekwo fixed January 19, 2023, for the suit to be mentioned and to allow the defendants file their respective responses.