The Governorship, National and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal in Bauchi granted Garba Dahiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) permission to access sensitive materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the February 25 National Assembly election in the state. Dahiru had contested the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat and lost to Shehu Umar of the All Progressives Congress, as declared by INEC. The order was issued by a three‑member panel headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi after an ex‑parte application filed by the candidate and his party.
Lead counsel for Dahiru, Alex Hassan, asked the court to compel INEC to release the documents in its custody, arguing that they were essential to his petition challenging Umar’s victory. Justice Kpochi found the application meritorious and ordered INEC to make all election materials for the Bauchi South senatorial contest available to the applicant, his agents, and counsel. He instructed that the petitioners take certified copies and conduct a manual, physical inspection of the materials used in the February 25, 2023 election.
In a separate ruling, the tribunal also granted leave to New Nigeria Peoples Party candidate Mijinyawa Mohammed to access the election materials deployed by INEC for the Bauchi North senatorial district election. Represented by counsel Yaldami Gambo, Mohammed argued that the order would enable him and his party to inspect all materials used by the electoral body in preparing their petition. Justice Kpochi, noting the merit of this application as well, authorized the petitioner and his counsel to approach INEC and obtain certified copies of the materials used in the February 25 Bauchi North senatorial election.
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