2023 Guber: INEC Ordered By Court To Allow Use Of Temporary Voters Cards

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been ordered by the Federal High Court in Abuja to allow the use of Temporary Voters Cards (TVCs) ahead of the governorship election on March 18.

The order was given on Thursday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu in his verdict in the suit filed by two Nigerians seeking the use of TVCs in the general elections when Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are not available.

In his ruling, Egwuatu stated that the order was made on the grounds that the plaintiffs had been duly registered and captured in INEC’s database prior to the commencement of the general election.

The judge was, however, unable to grant the request that every eligible voter with a TVC vote because the suit was not filed in a representative capacity.

“This suit having not been brought in a representative capacity, I find myself unable to grant any relief pursuant to prayer three of the plaintiff’s application”, Egwuatu said.

Speaking further, the court held that there is no part in the law (both the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act) that it is stated that only PVCs could be used in an election but that the law under Section 47 provides for voter’s cards.