The elections petition tribunal sitting in Ogun State has granted the request of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to inspect the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and other sensitive materials used for 2023 gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in the state.
The request was granted following a petition written by the NNPP and its gubernatorial candidate in the state, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, over the omission of the party’s name on the ballot papers used for the election.
Our correspondent recalls that NNPP was omitted on the ballot papers during the elections held on 18th March across the state.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election.
The party described the omission as a plot to disenfranchise its members, loyalists, supporters and the masses from voting during the elections.
The party, in its argument, alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which conducted the elections, did not print the party’s name on the governorship ballot papers, as prescribed by the Electoral Act.
The party asked the tribunal to allow it to make photocopies, scan and record all sensitive materials used by INEC.
The tribunal granted all the prayers of the party in the motion ex-parte filed on Friday at the Isabo court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The motion ex-parte was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit deposed by the State chairman of the party, Olaposi Oginni.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Argum Ashom, agreed with the NNPP on the prayers, “in that effect the reliefs are granted as prayed.”
Oguntoyinbo, while speaking on the privilege given to the party to inspect the BVAS and other sensitive materials, commended the tribunal for granting the party’s prayers.
The NNPP candidate, in his remarks, alleged that INEC decided to rob the party of victory.
He further alleged that the INEC refused to correct the error.
He maintained that the inability of INEC to correct the error made the party approach the tribunal.
He said, “The omission was a ploy to rob him and the party of the victory in the just conducted gubernatorial and state assembly elections.”
