Edo Election Petition Tribunal Grants PDP Request to Inspect Election Materials
In a significant development, the Edo Election Petition Tribunal has granted the request of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, to inspect all election materials used in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. The tribunal’s Chairman, Justice W.I. Kpochi, granted the order in an ex-parte motion filed by Ighodalo and the party.
The petition and affidavits were sworn to by Osasere Adagbonyin, and the tribunal granted all the prayers of the petitioners. The Certified True Copy of the order, signed by the Secretary of the tribunal, Mauzu Ibrahim, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to produce and make available all the materials used in the election.
The documents listed by the applicants and granted by the tribunal include forms EC8A, forms EC8B, forms EC8C, forms EC8D, forms EC8E, forms EC25B, forms EC25B(i), forms EC40A, forms EC40C, forms EC40G, and forms EC40G(i). The tribunal also ordered INEC to make available polling unit results, forms EC8A uploaded to its IREV portal, lists of accredited agents, voters’ registers, and other materials.
Speaking to newsmen at the INEC office in Benin, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, said they were at the office to further the court order and the applicants’ attempt to inspect the electoral materials. According to Jolaawo, they were unable to get an audience with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) but were able to see the head of the legal unit, who informed them that a schedule for their inspection was being prepared.
The risk involved in the delay is obvious, as the time expires on Saturday for the applicants to file their petition, and today is Monday. The tribunal’s order is a significant development in the ongoing electoral dispute in Edo State, and it remains to be seen how the parties will proceed in the coming days.
