Lagos Lawyer Floors INEC in Court Over PVC

A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr. Chijioke Emeka, has secured victory over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over PVC.

The case was over the failure of INEC to issue him with a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) ahead of the 2015 general elections. 

Hon. Justice I. N. Buba of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos yesterday ordered INEC to issue him with PVC immediately.

It would be recalled that Mr. Emeka, as plaintiff, brought an action against INEC in SUIT NO. FHC/L/CS/179/2015 before Justice Buba.

Case came ahead of the March and April 2015 elections.

Mr. Emeka complained that INEC had failed to issue him with his PVC even though he registered to vote and was earlier issued with a voter’s card.

In his Originating Summons, the Plaintiff sought to compel INEC to issue him with PVC to enable him to vote in the 2015 elections. 

The suit could not be concluded before the elections. 

After the elections, the Plaintiff amended his Originating Summons and raised four questions for determination, which included:

1. Whether by virtue of Sections 9(1) and 12(1) of the Electoral Act 2010, the Plaintiff, being a Nigerian citizen who has met the requirements of the law and issued with a ‘Voter’s Card’ by the Defendant, as per EXHIBIT 1, is not entitled to be included in the National Register of Voters and issued with a “Permanent Voter’s Card” by the Defendant?

2. Whether the Plaintiff’s civil and legal rights was not breached by the failure the Defendant to issue him with a “Permanent Voter’s Card”, as a result of its mismanagement of its data-base or any other internal hitches; having thereby been excluded from voting in the 2015 General Elections conducted on 28th March, 2015 and 11th April, 2015?

INEC, through its lawyer Ahmed Raji SAN, challenged the choice of Originating Summons by the Plaintiff, arguing that it was improper. 

INEC also challenged the justiciability of the suit on grounds that it was not supported by law and allegedly based on an unenforceable Chapter of the Constitution. 

It further argued that the Plaintiff lacked the locus standi to bring the action, not having shown any special interest in the PVC issue.

INEC also argued that the evidence in the case that the Plaintiff’s information was wiped off its data base is hearsay.

It finally said that no remedy has been provided by law for the Plaintiff’s type of case.

In his reply, the Plaintiff contended that Originating Summons is the appropriate form for the case.

That he has locus standi as he was a victim of the PVC issue himself and that even if the law provided no remedy, the Court would create a remedy once he has a right to the PVC.

Also, that the alleged loss of information in data base was not the basis of the claim. 

He contended that INEC staff never reported at any of the polling units in his area to distribute PVCs.

However, upholding the Plaintiff’s claims yesterday, Hon. Justice Buba held that the suit was properly commenced by Originating Summons. 

He also held that the suit is justiceable and that the Court has jurisdiction to entertain it. 

It was held that the Plaintiff had locus standi to bring the action as he was asserting his right and a wrong he suffered personally. 

The Court ruled that having been denied his PVC and opportunity to vote, the Plaintiff showed sufficient special interest to sustain the claim.

Hon. Justice Buba also rejected the contention of INEC that the suit was based on hearsay evidence.

He held that the side-talk of an INEC staff that some data was wiped off INEC’s database was not the fulcrum of the case. 

The Court agreed with the Plaintiff that the Defendant woefully failed to answer his case, and accordingly the case succeeded. 

The Court then issued a mandatory order directing INEC to forthwith issue the Plaintiff with PVC based on his Voter’s Card.  

INEC was also ordered to pay the Plaintiff the sum of N400,000 which the Court assessed as costs.

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