Justice Egwuatu ruled in favour of the two plaintiffs, stating they should be allowed to vote with their TVCs without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The judge cited that the plaintiffs were duly registered and captured in INEC’s database. However, he could not grant the third prayer of the suit, which sought to allow every eligible voter with a TVC to vote because the case was not filed in a representative capacity.
The use of TVCs in the elections has been a contentious issue, with some arguing that it may lead to electoral malpractice. INEC had earlier stated that only PVCs would be accepted for the elections, citing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
The commission had also expressed concern about the number of uncollected PVCs, with millions of registered voters still waiting to collect their cards. INEC had urged registered voters to collect their PVCs before the deadline of February 8, 2019, to be able to participate in the general elections.
The appeal by INEC is expected to be closely watched, as it may have implications for the conduct of the general elections. The use of TVCs has been controversial, with some arguing that it may disenfranchise eligible voters who cannot collect their PVCs for various reasons.
There have also been concerns about the effectiveness of INEC’s voter registration process, with some alleging that it may be prone to manipulation. INEC had earlier stated that it had taken measures to ensure the integrity of the voter registration process, including tusingbiometric technology to capture the fingerprints and photographs of registered voters.
The upcoming general elections are a crucial test for Nigeria’s democracy, with the country grappling with various economic, social and security challenges. The polls are expected to be fiercely contested, with the two main parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), vying for control of the presidency and the National Assembly.
The use of TVCs in the elections is just one of the many issues raised in the lead-up to the polls. Other issues include concerns about the neutrality of security agencies, the role of money in politics, and the use of social media to spread fake news and hate speech.