The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the governorship elections. The court ordered that the governorship and state house of assembly election results be uploaded electronically to the IRev.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on the suit filed by the Labour Party and 41 others. Furthermore, the suit was for an order of mandamus to compel INEC to obey the Electoral Act and its guidelines. The suit was entertained by the court because it was according to the provisions of the law.
Moreover, Justice Lifu was in support of the applicants’ petition as they didn’t go against the constitution. The applicants are only trying to get the electoral body to comply with the Electoral Act. Again, this is because the electoral body failed to follow the guidelines stipulated during the February 25 election.
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Finally, the court ruled in favour of the applicants with “an order of mandamus directing and compelling the defendant and all its agents and privies or any persons acting under their directions to comply with and enforce the provision of Clause 37 of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022, for the conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Lagos State on March 11, 2023, to wit: Mandating the Presiding Officer of all Polling Units to paste the Publication of Result Poster EC60(E) at the Polling Units conspicuously after completing the EC8A result sheet.”
Further, this means that after the elections, all results will be transmitted electronically to the portal. This will prove that the election is free, fair, and credible. After the exercise, voters can also visit the portal and check the results.