12 Bayelsa Monarchs Sue INEC, AGF

TRADITIONAL rulers in Southern Ijaw Local Gov­ernment Area of Bayelsa State have dragged the In­dependent National Elec­toral Commission (INEC) to court over alleged dis­enfranchisement during the December 5 and 6 gover­norship election.

Also joined in the suit is the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Min­ister of Justice.

In a motion on notice filed at the High Court in Yenagoa, the plaintiff, on behalf of 12 royal fathers, described their exclusion as unconstitutional and a breach of right.

According to them, the first failed in its consti­tutional responsibility of providing relevant election materials that would have assisted in the conduct of free, fair and credible polls.

The plaintiff prayed the court to declare as follows: That he, as a duly registered voter in Ward 12, polling unit 11 (Alegbebiri, Tamak­unu Primary school) in Eni­wari community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has a right to vote in the state gubernatorial elections, ini­tially slated for December 5 and later rescheduled for December 6.

He also prayed for an order directing the first respondent to ensure that voting materials are made available at the applicant’s Polling Unit 11 to enable the applicant exercise his right to vote in an environ­ment devoid of insecurity.

The reliefs also include the following: “A declara­tion that the 1st respondent has a duty to make electoral materials available in the applicant’s Polling Unit 11 for the yet to be resched­uled Bayelsa governorship election.

“A declaration that the 2nd respondent has a duty to ensure that the applicant exercises his right to vote in an environment that is devoid of violence and in­security.”

Buttressing his argument with relevant sections of the constitution as related to the suit, the plaintiff posited that the legal action was instituted to seek redress over the respondents failure to provide an environment devoid of violence and in­security in line with Article 13(1) of the African Char­ter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enticement) Act Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Article 21 (1) of the Universal Dec­laration of Human Rights (1948).

Fielding questions from newsmen in Yenagoa on the development, counsel to the applicant, Mr. Nicholas Obhiseh, said his client has met the necessary require­ments as regards filing pro­cesses and was waiting for the date of hearing of the case.

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