₦airaland Forum

BENIN—A Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, has held that prisoners in Nigerian prisons have the right to vote in all elections conducted in the country.

Justice Mohammed Lima, who made the ruling in a suit by Victor Emenuwe, Onome Inaye, Kabiru Abu, Osagie Iyekepolor, Modugu Odion (for and on behalf of inmates of Nigeria Prisons), against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Controller-General of Nigeria Prisons Service, also directed the defendants to ensure that the applicants were not disenfranchised.

The plaintiffs had, in the suit, asked the court to determine “whether, having regards to the provisions of section 25 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended in 2011,and section 12 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, the plaintiffs are not entitled to be registered as voters by INEC.”

They had also prayed the court to determine, whether having regard to the provisions of Section 77 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 12 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, the plaintiffs were not entitled to cast their votes at any election in the country.

They had also asked the court to determine whether the failure of INEC to make registration and voting provisions for the inmates in the custody of Nigerian prisons does not constitute an infringement on their rights as citizens of Nigeria as enshrined in section 14 (1) (2) (a) (b), section 17 (2) (a), section 24 (b), (c),section 39 of the 1999 constitution and Article 13 (1) and Article 20 (1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

In his judgment, Justice Lima, said: “Act byINEC to deny inmates the right to vote is unconstitutional, illegal, irregular, unlawful,null and void and of no effect whatsoever. The defendants do not have the constitutional right to deny the claimants their voting rights.“Being an inmate is not an offence that impedes their registration and voting right under section 24 of the Electoral Act; and that the exclusion of inmates in elections conducted in Nigeria is illegal and ultra vires.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/prisoners-nigeria-right-vote-elections-court-rules/

I even support that they should vote. This is indeed goodnews. Just watch and see now how our prisons will be flooded with campaign.

Nice One...
Amendment to nigeria constitution need to be done asap...

Good...
Pre election campaign stomach infrastructure will still flood the prison.

I pray it doesn't give room for rigging.

let them vote GMB

Free folks never get PVC finish.....Just saying

Honestly i don't know what to say, whether to support or not ?

macpetrus:
Nice One...
Amendment to nigeria constitution need to be done asap...

The Constitution already supports it,that is why the judge ruled that way.Read the post again

modhream:
The Constitution already supports it,that is why the judge ruled that way.Read the post again

Thanks

ok

They are all citizen of this great country.


Let their vote count, this could lead to a greater reform in the prison service and treatment of prisoners.

PerfumeRepublik:
Free folks never get PVC finish.....Just saying

Just like those twins



Anyway........ Nice development and let see how it goes.
I hope they have their PVC and not an avenue to rig

The 1st Commandment : Thou shall not vote in town ,..commit crime and vote in prison again ..

haha....Buhari For Sure Now....Prisoners go and vote

Enough vote for the incumbent government Hmm

This is absolutely wrong in my own opinion.
Prisoners have limited rights based on what they've done in the past, and also considering their violent nature, knowing well that they can do anything to get out of prison vis-a-vis what our politicians are willing to do just to win, its like someone that wants to die has now seen what will kill him. I smell trouble, prisoners shouldn't be allowed to vote and be voted for at all

na true jarey

Yes...........



Na true ooo







We need change in diz country!!!!!!!!!

HAAHH AHHAAHH SHOKI

Lol...criminal vote criminal

The idea is great but I'm afraid PDP would start recording "millions" of votes in their favour from inmates!

ignis:
Good...
Pre election campaign stomach infrastructure will still flood the prison.

I pray it doesn't give room for rigging.

Infact the main idea is to allow the free movement of rigging!

.

yes the court is right

Hope all this constitution digging wont end up in rigging??

prisoners sef go vote out Jonathan.


buhari/osibanjo till 2023