A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday
rejected an application for an order stopping the
Independent National Electoral Commission from
using the electronic card readers in the
forthcoming general elections.
The application, an ex parte, was filed by four
political parties – the United Democratic Party,
Action Alliance, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria
and Alliance for Democracy.
A similar suit challenging the exclusive use of
the Permanent Voter Cards and the card reader
is pending before Justice Abdulkadir Abdul-
kafarati of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in his ruling on Monday
on the application filed on behalf of the political
parties by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, held
that INEC deserved to be heard before making a
pronouncement on their prayers.
He noted that the political parties had shown
that they had legal rights to institute the action
and that the case was one that could be litigated
on, but he insisted that he could not grant the
interim orders sought by the applicants without
first hearing from INEC.
But the court ordered INEC to file its defence
within four days of receiving the court papers.
It fixed hearing of the substantive suit for March
10.
The application was argued on behalf of the
plaintiffs on Monday by Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN),
who led three other SANs – Bolaji Ayorinde,
Ikechukwu Ezechukwu and Adekunle Oyesanya –
in filing the main suit.
The plaintiffs had argued on Monday that the
use of the electronic card reader was contrary to
the provisions of the Constitution as well as the
Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
The plaintiffs are challenging the powers of the
electoral body to introduce a process not
specifically provided for in the statutes ahead of
preparations for the rescheduled polls.
Izinyon maintained that the proposed use of the
electronic card readers is in breach of the
provisions of section 52(1) of the Electoral Act
which he argued prohibits electronic voting.
He said, “My lord, this is what brought us to this
court. INEC wants Nigerian voters to subject
themselves to electronic voter card reader, an
electronic component which is expressly
prohibited.
“Anything to do with electronic magnetic
capturing properties cannot be allowed in the
conduct of the election.”
He urged the court to temporarily restrain the
electoral body from “implementing, commencing
or directing the use of the card reader machine
for the forthcoming election, pending the
determination of the suit.”
He further urged the court to bridge the time
within which the electoral body would be allowed
to file a response in view of the nature of the
case which, according to him, has a robust
electoral jurisprudence.
He cited a decision of a Federal High Court in
Ebonyi Division in 2003, when the open secret
ballot system was adopted by the state
Independent Election Commission in the conduct
of local government elections contrary to the
provisions of the Electoral Act which prescribed
an open ballot system.
He pointed out that the court went ahead to
nullify that election and that “the heavens did
not fall.”
He insisted that the card reader could not be
allowed to take the place of accreditation as
prescribed by the Electoral Act.
The parties are among the 16 parties that
supported the Peoples Democratic Party in
objecting to the conduct of the elections as
earlier scheduled. They have also adopted
President Jonathan (the presidential candidate of
the PDP) as their candidate.
They hinged their prayers on the grounds that,
the INEC published in January 2015 Manual for
Election Officials 2015 and INEC Approved
Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of the
2015 general elections, to help election officials
learn all aspects of polling to enable them to
face the challenge and answer questions that
may arise on the day of election.
They noted that sometime in January 2015 INEC
made its intention known to all registered
political parties and registered voters to use the
card reader for the election.
The parties argued that the use of card reader
Machine for the forthcoming election was not in
conformity with the Electoral Act 2010 (as
amended) and that their members across the
country who had been enlightened on the
accreditation procedure as contained in the
Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) would be
disenfranchised as they were not educated on
the use of Card Reader. www.punchng.com/news/court-rejects-application-stopping-inec-from-using-card-reader/

APC winning this election on every side no doubt buhari winning with 60% votes against Gej gaining 40% votes.

Only enemies of progress will refuse card readers. P.D.Pigs and their cohorts are the enemies of progress. God pass them all.


Sai Buhari... a done deal.

We Are Ready!!

*In shekau's voice

Oga Jonah!!!! Zunkafakasha
I don't know why you ogas at the top pear(fear) so much for the election
Is it because you have not eaten enough already

keep calm and vote Buhari
#I_have_Decided
GMB 2015

Well fee dee fee is in trouble.

lobatan

GMB

Johnnyessence:
APC winning this election on every side no doubt buhari winning with 60% votes against Gej gaining 40% votes.

why are you this bias na?

who will give GEJ the 40% votes? it's Buhari 97% GEJ 2% the rest 1%

REVEALED: Jonathan Presidency Begged Buhari To Settle Abati “Ungovernable” Slander Libel Suit Out of CourtLike837ShareAug. 4, 2014NewsRescue- Very few Nigerians know that it was a single evil mastermind, Jonathan’s media man,Reuben Abati that concocted the deadly slanderous accusation against the person of ex-head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, that claimed he made statements of making “Nigeria ungovernable,” in the event he lost the 2011 presidential elections. Abati cooked up the viral lies in a Guardian publication captioned “For the attention of General Buhari”publishedin April of 2011.Related:NewsRescue-EXPOSED: ItWas PDP That Promised To Make Nigeria Ungovernable in 2011, Buhari Never Did!Buhari took him to court and as can be read below, under begging from the Presidency, Buhari agreed to settle out-of-court and Abati and theGuardian he used to be managing editor for published a public apologyto Buhari on 11th July 2013. But truth never spread like the slander; and despite the presidency begging Buhari, the other than Abati, all the other media ‘dogs’ of the presidency continued promoting the same slander. Rather shocking to realize this.NewsRescuehas opened a$1000 challenge for whoever can provide where Buhari ever said anything about making Nigeria ungovernable in 2011, just to dig outthe truth once and for all; because this will be very unfair to the person of Buhari that we continue to peddle this evil slander.An article we missed that was in all major dailies:Presidency begs Buhari to settle slander case out of courtBy Comrade Godwin Ameh;DailyPost on January 13, 2013The presidency has begged former Head of States and national leader of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to settle out of court the libel suit he filed against the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.It would be recalled that Abati had on page 51 of the April 22, 2011, edition of The Guardian newspaper, written an article entitled “For the attention of General Buhari,” where he claimed that Buhari made an unguarded statement which stirred the post-election violence that almost tore the nation apart.The former Military General however, regarded the publication aslibellous, aimed at denting his hard earned name and image.Buhari consequently dragged Abati and The Guardian Newspapers to court via suit no. ID/837/2011, demanding N1billion damages from them.However, in a copy of the Terms of Settlement filed before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, the ‘warring’ parties have agreed to settle the matter out of court.According to the terms of settlement,dated December 2012 and filed before the administrative judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, the claimant (Buhari), Mr. Tope Adebayo ( lawyer to Buhari), Abati and Mr. Kunle Sanyaolu (lawyer to The Guardian) signed the terms of settlement. But the lawyer to the firstdefendant (Abati), Dame Carol Ajie, refused to sign the document. The refusal may not be unconnected to the conditions and terms of the agreement.It was gathered that the parties further agreed that Abati and The Guardian should retract and apologise to Buhari in certain form and contents.The terms of settlement reads in part: “The claimant (Buhari) and defendants (Abati and The Guardian) have agreed that the defendants should publish a retraction and an apology to the claimant on the Opinion Page of the newspaper, to be printed in reverse line black (RLB) within seven days ofentering the Consent Terms as the judgment of the court in two editionsof The Guardian.“The claimant and defendants have agreed and resolved that the retraction and apology shall take thefollowing form and contents: ‘Re: Forthe attention of General Buhari’- On April 22, 2011, The Guardian Newspaper published an article on Page 51 titled ‘For the attention of General Buhari’ where certain allegations were made against General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), GCFR, concerning the 2011 election and General Buhari’s alleged role in the violence emanating from the elections.“The publication was based on information which we believed to be reliable at that time. Since the publication, however, we now have reason to believe that certain parts of the story were not verified to be correct before the publication.“We assure General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), GCFR, of our highest esteem and regret any distress or embarrassment which the said publication may have caused him.“The claimant and defendants agree that on the execution of these Termsof Settlement, the defendants are discharged from all or any liabilities or obligations arising from the said publication.”http://dailypost.ng/2013/01/13/presidency-begs-buhari-to-settle-slander-case-out-of-court/Buhari obliged: The out ofcourt settlementGUARDIAN Re: For the attention of General BuhariThursday, 11 July 2013 00:00EditorSIR: “On April 22, 2011, The Guardian Newspaper published an article on page 51 titled “For the attention of General Buhari” wherein certain allegations were made against General Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged role in the violence emanating from the elections.The publication was based oninformation which we believed to be reliable at that time. Since the publication, however, we now have reasonto believe that certain parts ofthe story were not verified to be correct before the publication.We assure General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) GCFR of our highest esteem and regret any distress or embarrassment which the said publication may have caused him.”— Editor http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126723%3Are-for-the-attention-of-general-buhari-&catid=77%3Aletters&Itemid=613#.Ud6sCDHgyY4.facebookThe Whole Truth about the “Ungovernable” commentIt was aPDPpolitician, Alhaji Lawal Kaitathat said:“The North is determined if it happens, to make Nigeria ‘ungovernable’ for President Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his wayto the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy.”“Ungovernable” came within the PDP and was related to PDp zoning issues. Makes sense? Now recollect what NSA Andrew Azazi revealed before he was killed and it all adds up.Related: NewsRescue-EXPOSED: ItWas PDP That Promised To Make Nigeria Ungovernable in 2011, Buhari Never Did!

space booked, pls keep off

Good to hear this.

When other countries are busy developing and using newer and better technology to improve the lives of their people,our supposed leaders are trying to drag this country back to the Stone Age. Smh.


PDP trying to use everything possible to rig the election.

If PDP claimed they r a party 2 beat,y r they scared of card reader?U goats r d one who clamour 4 these readers.It beats mi.WTF

Great decision by the court. Card readers must be used to ensure free, fair and credible polls whether PDP like it or not.

Kudos there to the judge. Card readers guarantee that election rigging is reduced significantly and it is only those with rigging plans that will kick against it.

GMB/PYO 2015.

Babacele:

Why not arrange this properly to be friendly to the eyes

Its good that most judges are not compromising. Only God knows how much has been offered the judge to judge in their favour. If Mr president had performed in the last 6years,I see no reason why he will be sharing huge money to religious bodies,traditional leaders,youth leaders,etc and at the same time will be desperate to push out the national electoral chairman who is not ready to compromise. If you look closely at what is happening in Nigerian political sphere,you will need no prophet to tell you that Jonathan does not mean well for the country.

2011 election was good but there were still some irregularities in the conduct, and the use of pvcs and card readers will help reduce some of those irregularities (such as the jumbo votes in some places). We need to keep strengthening our electoral process till "irregularities" are totally eliminated and the pvcs and card readers are good innovations in this regard, I dnt know why any1 will be against it.

[size=38pt]INEC CARD READERS[/size]... THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF PDP

Another rigging channel blocked, expect PDP to come with another one but no matter what all their rigging apparatus will be put to shame.

Yungwizzzy:


why are you this bias na?

who will give GEJ the 40% votes? it's Buhari 97% GEJ 2% the rest 1%

Ogbeni Wizzy, you are wicked gannnn...

PassingShot:


Why not arrange this properly to be friendly to the eyes

You can help us do that sir,thanks.

And this is still considered a party worth voting for? Only in a backward country like Nigeria . . .
And yet some underemployed i.diot with no light who has just read that the ruling party was trying to disenfranchise voters would come and shout GEJ til 2019 . .

The cretin SANs also forget that the TVC they desperately want to advocate was produced by electronic means, the PVC is also electronic with a chip. Authenticating the PVC by electronic means is not voting. Voting is still by manual thumb printing.

The settlement they collected has blocked their experience and thinking faculty.