A Federal High Court in Abuja has lifted an ex-parte order that previously restricted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the national voters’ register to the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) for local government elections scheduled for Saturday.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on September 18.
The initial order was issued on July 29, following a motion filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which sought to prevent the KWSIEC from conducting the elections without access to the updated voter registry. However, in a subsequent ruling, Justice Lifu vacated this order in response to an application from KWSIEC.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu noted that the ex-parte order should be lifted after 14 days, as stipulated by legal provisions governing such matters. KWSIEC’s lawyer, Johnson Usman (SAN), successfully argued that the original order had exceeded its validity period.
Additionally, the court dismissed allegations of contempt of court made by the PDP against KWSIEC Chairman Okanlawon Baba.
The PDP had sought to have Baba committed to prison for purportedly violating the court’s previous order. However, the judge found no grounds to support this claim.
With the lifting of the restraining order, KWSIEC is now authorized to proceed with preparations for the local government elections in Kwara State, marking a significant step forward in the electoral process.
The decision has been welcomed by various stakeholders, eager to ensure a smooth and transparent election.
As the election day approaches, the focus will now shift to the operational readiness of KWSIEC and the integrity of the electoral process in Kwara State.