Approaching the 2023 polls, the Labour Party Candidate for the Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency, Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh has originated a lawsuit seeking the inclusion of every candidate's photograph by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its ballot papers at the Abakaliki Federal Court, Ebonyi State.
The plaintiff in a suit marked number, FHC/Ai/CS/194/2022 solicited the Nigerian electoral umpire to include every candidate's photograph alongside his/her party logo for easy identification of the candidates of their choice by the voters, especially the illiterate electorate.
Addressing Journalists in Abakaliki, the Counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. Steve Nwankwo explained that his client's demand is because the majority of the electorates are allegedly uneducated.
According to Nwankwo, "I hold a brief of Barr Luke Nkwegu in this matter for a client seeking that necessary steps be taken to enable the rural dwellers who are majorly uneducated to know the candidate and party, they are voting for.
"He's requesting for the attachment of photograph of contestants alongside party logo in the ballot papers just like the plaintiff who's a contestant in the 2023 general election, if you attach his photo on the ballot paper will help the old men, women and uneducated youths to know who their choice candidates and vote appropriately.
"And today, we have filed our processes and serve the same to the defendant being INEC, and the matter came up today for hearing but unfortunately, INEC has not filed their processes so that matters will be properly joined."
He noted that the request is a pre-election matter and could be affected by the INEC and prayed that the court grants the demand to ensure that anomalies confronting masses voting unknown candidates during the election are corrected.
Also speaking, the Coordinator Center for Media Enhancement and Ebonyi State Chairman, Coalition of NGOs, Barr Iduma Iduma described the matter as a welcomed development.
Iduma noted that if the court grants the request, it would help strengthen democracy in the country.
The Legal Practitioner added that the photograph alongside the party logo would help smooth the process of electioneering, saying the voters can easily identify their choice candidates.
He appealed to the court to see reasons for compelling the electoral body to take necessary action knowing that the matter is coming at the right time when Nigerians are clamouring for transparency in the electoral process.
He enjoined all other Non Governmental organizations to support the advocacy as that would go a long way to correct anomalies in the country's electoral system.
Also, the Ebonyi State Secretary Committee for the Human Rights Defence, Comrade Onyibe Jeremiah stated that granting the request by the court would serve as another landmark achievement on the part of the INEC, pointing out that, the system would enhance democracy in line with the new electoral law (as amended).
He applauded Dr Ezeh for the initiative and enjoined every Nigerian to support the actualization of the demand as that would help to stabilize democracy in the country.
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned further to the 4th day of October 2022 for a hearing.
