19. On the merits, the Respondent State prays the Court for the following: i. A declaration that the Respondent State has not violated Article 1, 3 and 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights by enacting sections 4(1), 6(1), 7(2) and 7(3) of the National Elections Act; ii. A declaration that the Respondent State has not violated Article 25(a) and (b) and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by enacting sections 4(1), 6(1), 7(2) and 7(3) of the National Elections Act; iii. A declaration that the Respondent State has not violated Article 21(1) and (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by enacting sections 4(1), 6(1), 7(2) and 7(3) of the National Elections Act; iv. Any other order or relief that the Hon. Court will deem fit to grant; and v. V. That the Application be dismissed with costs. JURISDICTION 20. The Court recalls that Article 3 of the Protocol provides that: 1. The jurisdiction of the Court shall extend to all cases and disputes submitted to it concerning the interpretation and application of the Charter, this Protocol and any other relevant Human Rights instrument ratified by the States concerned. 2. In the event of a dispute as to whether the Court has jurisdiction, the Court shall decide. 21. The Court further recalls that pursuant to Rule 49(1) of the Rules, it “shall preliminarily ascertain its jurisdiction … in accordance with the Charter, the Protocol and these Rules.”7 22. On the basis of the above-cited provisions, the Court must preliminarily establish its jurisdiction and dispose of objections thereto, if there are any. 7 Rule 39(1), Rules of Court, 2 June 2010. 7