In a suit marked FHC/ ABJ/ CS/2119/2022, these Nigerians living in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world are asking the court to prevent President Buhari and INEC from proceeding with the 2023 electioneering process until INEC’s voter register and bio-data base are updated to include them as registered voters.

They said it was their fundamental rights to vote in the 2023 general elections, therefore INEC has to include them in the register voter to enable them exercise their civic rights at the polls next year and every other time no matter where they are in the world.

The suit, which was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs, Barrister Chikwe Nkemnacho and Kenneth Azubuike Nkemnacho, who both lives in the United Kingdom by Augustine Temfeh-Nkemnachob has prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare that they are entitled to participate in the electoral process by being registered to vote in 2023 and in all elections wherever they are domiciled worldwide in line with sections 13, 14, 42 and 17 of the 1999 Constitution.

The plaintiffs said they instituted the suit on behalf of other Nigerians in the diaspora worldwide.

They also asked the court to rule that INEC has enough time to comply with the provisions of sections 13, 14, and 15 of the 1999 Constitution, noting that if they are not allowed to vote in the 2023 elections and subsequent ones, their fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution will be grossly violated.

The defendants’ responses will be due on January 19, 2023, according to Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, who is assigned to hear the case.

INEC, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria are the first through fourth defendants in the suit.