Nigerian prison inmates now have the right to vote during elections

Justice Mohammed Lima of the Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, yesterday ruled that inmates of all prisons across Nigeria have the right to vote in all elections conducted in the country.

The suit was filed by Victor Emenuwe, Onome Inaye, Kabiru Abu, Osagie Iyekepolor, Modugu Odion (for and on behalf of inmates of Nigeria Prisons) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Prisons Service.


The plaintiffs had in an amended Originating Summons, asked the court to determine “whether having regards to the provisions of section 25 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended in 2011, and section 12 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, the plaintiffs are not entitled to be registered as voters by the first Defendants.”