Afrigather The governorship election petition tribunal in Kogi has given INEC 48 hours to situation licensed copies of electoral supplies on the Nov. 11 off-cycle election within the state to the Social Democratic Social gathering (SDP).
It additionally ordered INEC to permit SDP’s forensic specialists to look at some electoral supplies.
The supplies embody the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and end result sheets for Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi and Bassa Native Authorities Areas.
The tribunal dominated on Saturday in Lokoja that the SDP requested the supplies to show its case within the petition it filed towards the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the election.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, gave the order following two ex-parte motions filed on Nov. 19 by the SDP and by its governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka.
Mr Birnin-Kudu mentioned the orders turned crucial in view of the time constraints the tribunal needed to discharge its mandate.
“The order is in compliance with Nigeria’s 1999 Structure (as amended) and with the Electoral Act (2022).
“INEC is hereby ordered to supply all of the paperwork being sought by the plaintiffs inside 48 hours to allow proceedings to go easily and with out hitches,’’ he declared.
SDP and Mr Ajaka earlier filed seven ex-parte motions to assist their demand however withdrew 5 and pursued two.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, John Adele (SAN), had earlier instructed the courtroom that efforts made to acquire licensed copies of supplies used within the six native authorities areas from INEC had been fruitless.
“Time is of essence on this matter, and that’s the reason we filed the motions to your lordship to assist to salvage the state of affairs.
“Every time we approached INEC since Nov. 13, its officers did not avail us with even one of many electoral supplies for which we requested.
“We imagine that in case your lordship grants our software, INEC will do the needful to allow us to prosecute this case inside the time restrict,’’ he prayed the tribunal.
Mr Birnin-Kudu adjourned the case to Wednesday, Nov. 29, for submission of the report of compliance by INEC and continuation of the listening to.
The SDP and Mr Ajaka are difficult the victory of APC and its candidate, Usman Ododo, on the election petition tribunal.
INEC declared Mr Ododo because the winner of the election with 446,237 votes, whereas his closest rival, Mr Ajaka, received 259,052 votes.
(NAN)
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