Friday, 28th of July 2023, there was a significant development in the case of INEC v. Kofoworola & Anor, Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/364/2023, concerning the use of Temporary Voter Cards for voting in place of Permanent Voter Cards in Nigeria.
The Court of Appeal made a decisive decision by striking out INEC’s appeal against the judgment given by the Federal High Court in March 2023. The initial judgment from the Federal High Court had permitted the use of Temporary Voter Cards as a valid form of identification for voting, replacing the requirement of Permanent Voter Cards. However, INEC expressed disagreement with this ruling and pursued an appeal.
Following careful deliberation, the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the respondents, who were represented by their counsel, Opatola Victor Esq. As a result, the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court now stands, affirming the legality of using Temporary Voter Cards for voting during elections.
This decision is likely to have a significant impact on future elections in Nigeria, as it grants registered voters the ability to participate using their Temporary Voter Cards, making the voting process more accessible and inclusive. This marks a noteworthy victory for the respondents and is expected to shape how people engage in the electoral process going forward.