Warri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Delta State, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before a Federal High Court sitting in Warri, seeking an order to guard against any attempt to prevent the commission from employing its voters card reading machines, VCRMs, in the general elections.

The case is before Justice Abubakar Shittu. Plaintiffs are Mr John Aikpokpo-Martins, Chairman, NBA, Warri; Mr Othadua Okpakpor, Secretary, NBA, Warri and Olukunle Edun, Chairman, NBA, Warri, Public Interest Litigation Committee. Respondents are INEC, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to restrain the defendants from interfering with the functions of INEC, particularly on the use of the VCRMs in the elections commencing next weekend. They are also praying the court to compel INEC, either by itself, servants, agents and privies, to use the VCRMs in the 2015 general elections and subsequent elections. They are further asking the court to determine whether the defendants could lawfully interfere with the statutory responsibilities of INEC.

The plaintiffs are further contending that the National Assembly voted huge sums of money for INEC’s acquisition of the VCRMs in the 2014 Appropriation Act and was duly assented to by the President, adding that cancelling of the VCRMs usage, would amount to violation of the 2014 Appropriation Act, fundamental rights of the citizens and credibility of the elections. The case has been adjourned till March 26, 2015 for hearing.

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