iv. The right of the Applicants to participate freely in the government and public affairs of their country, protected under Article 13(1) of the Charter, insofar as the Supreme Court ordered that a fresh election be conducted. III. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT 7. The Application together with a request for provisional measures were filed before the Court on 5 May 2021 and served on the Respondent State on 13 May 2021 for its response within ninety (90) days and its observations on the request for provisional measures within ten (10) days respectively. 8. On 5 June 2021, the Respondent State filed its response to the request for provisional measures. 9. On 11 June 2021, the Court issued a Ruling in which it rejected the request for provisional measures by the Applicants that the election should be suspended. The Parties were notified of the Ruling on 12 June 2021. 10. On 30 June 2022, the Registry reminded the Respondent State that the time-limit to respond to the Application had elapsed, and that the Court would proceed to render a judgment in default should the Respondent State fail to file the requested response within forty-five (45) days of receipt of the notification. 11. At the expiry of the above stated time, the Respondent State did not file its pleadings as requested. 12. Pleadings were closed on 12 May 2023 and the Parties were duly notified thereof. 4