FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Asue Ighodalo and his party, yesterday, obtained a court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, among other things, to hand over the comprehensive list of all the electoral materials in its custody for inspection.
The order was given in the suit marked EPT/ED/GOV/01M/2024 between Ighodalo and PDP as applicants and INEC, Monday Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress, APC, as respondents.
In the enrolled order which was dated September 29 and signed by the Secretary of the tribunal, Mu’azu Bagudu, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice W. I Kpochi, said“having critically examined the details of the reliefs sought, the supporting affidavit and written address of counsel, the application is granted in the following terms: It is hereby ordered that the first respondent grant the applicants or their solicitors and forensic documents examiners unfettered access to and open up for inspection all electoral documents or any document in the custody of the national chief electoral commissioner or any officer of the commission/first respondent, particularly the voter registers, ballot papers, BVAS machines, Forms EC25B, EC 25B(1), Forms EC40A and Forms EC40C which were utilised for the conduct of the Edo State governorship election held on September 21.
“That the first respondent is mandated to take immediate steps to ensure that all the forms: EC25B, EC25B(I), EC40A, EC40C, EC40G, EC40G(I) used during the gubernatorial election either in the custody of the Chief National Electoral Commissioner, Resident Electoral Commissioner of Edo State or any other officer of the commission are preserved, kept temper-proof and secure pending the filing, hearing and determination of the petition to be filed by the applicants.
“That the first respondent is further directed to produce and give to the applicants, forthwith upon payment of the appropriate fees for certification, a list of accredited agents of all the political parties that participated in the Edo State gubernatorial election. Voters register for each of the polling units.”
A member of the applicants’ legal team, Olusegun Jolaowo (SAN) submitted the order to INEC and was told to come back the following day (Tuesday).
All the petitioners have till next Saturday to submit their petitions.
