All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday queried the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over a suit seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from using the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs for the forthcoming general elections.
The party which filed an application before the court praying to be joined as a defendant in the suit filed by a group- Society for Advancement and Protection of Public Rights, SAPPR – which favours the use of only the Temporary Voter Cards, TVCs.
The party’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led other eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria, to the court session, sought time to allow service of his client’s application on INEC (1st defendant in the suit).
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/06/2015 has the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, as defendant.
The plaintiff seeks to restrain INEC from using the PVCs and card readers for the next general elections on the ground that they were likely to lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
He contended that since INEC had not engaged in trial application of the PVCs and card readers, they could not guarantee their effectiveness.
The group wants the court to among others, direct INEC to revert to the use of TVCs, which had been tested during previous elections.
Fagbemi was accompanied by former AGF, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, Charles Edosomwan, Kola Awodein, Emeka Ngige, James Ocholi, Femi Falana, Funke Adekoya and H. O. Afolabi (all SANs). The plaintiff was represented by Ezenwa Alumnu while INEC was not represented. Mr. N. S. Olusola stood for the AGF.
In an affidavit supporting its joinder application, APC contended that the use of PVCs was to ensure a hitch-free and fair election, and to prevent rigging.
It argued that should the court grant the plaintiff’s prayers, its interest will be adversely affected, because as a registered political party with candidates contesting the elections, the use of TVCs would allow manipulation.
The APC said it intends to challenge the suit, because “its grant would jeopardise the preparations of the applicant (APC) towards the 2015 general elections.”
It said it has good and justiciable defence against the suit.
APC said if joined in the suit, it intends to challenge the plaintiff’s locus standi to contest the use of PVCs, because it is not a registered voter.
The party said it also intends to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.
Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati adjourned hearing to February 23 and ordered the service of hearing notice on INEC.
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