Over 1, 000 electorate in Edo sue INEC for non-issuance of PVCs

A legal practitioner, Mrs, Jayne Eriata and 1,430 others have dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), before a Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, over alleged denial of access to permanent voters’ cards by the commission before the last general election.

Eriata and others, who are claiming N20 million in damages, are from Ward 10, Ekpon Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.

The National Chairman of the commission and the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State, have also been joined in the suit as respondents, along with INEC.

Already, INEC has appeared in court to defend the action before Justice T. Liman, but asked for a short adjournment to enable it file its counter affidavit to the application.

When the matter came up, the respondents, represented by Miss Imoesi Susan, pleaded for adjournment to enable them file their counter affidavit to the application while Mrs. F. O. Uhunwa-Orhue, who represented the plaintiffs, did not oppose to the request for adjournment.

Trial judge, Justice Liman adjourned the case to November 30, for definite hearing, while he directed the respondents to file and serve their counter affidavit within seven days.