By KEMI KASUMU
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Friday, granted an application for leave to apply for Judicial Review and Mandamus directing and mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to comply with provisions of its Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022 by transmitting results of the upcoming Governorship and state House of Assembly elections by BVAS at polling units to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal.
The application was not only about getting INEC comply with Clause 37 and 38 of its Regulations and Guidelines for the election conduct but also, to get it comply with Section 27 of the Electoral Act on distribution of election materials in respect of the March 11 Governorship and House of Assembly elections my be complied with.
It was granted at the instance of Lagos State Chapter of Labour Party (LP).
According to the state Legal Adviser of LP, Barrister Abass Arisekola Ibrahim, the action was commenced by a Motion Exparte for Leave to Apply for Judicial Review and Mandamus Order
The party’s legal adviser said, “The Federal High Court in Lagos this afternoon has just granted our application for leave to apply for Judicial Review and Mandamus Orders directing/mandating INEC to comply with Clause 37 and 38 of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022 on electronic transfer/transmission of results and Section 27 of the Electoral Act on distribution of election materials in respect of the March 11 Governorship and House of Assembly election.
“The court further granted our prayer to abridge the time within which INEC may respond to our Originating Summons.”
The court ordered that the order and originating summons be served on INEC and, subsequently, adjourned the matter till 7th March 2023 for hearing.
