BENIN – The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate in the September 21 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo have obtained a court enrolled order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, among other things to hand over the comprehensive list of all the electoral materials available in its custody for the inspection of PDP and the candidate, Ighodalo and “the taking of the Certified True Copy thereof.”
The order was given in the suit marked EPT/ED/GOV/01M/2024 between Ighodalo Asuerinme and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as applicants and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Okpebholo Monday and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Respondents.
In the enrolled order which was dated Sunday September 29th 2024 and signed by the Secretary of the Tribunal, Mu’azu Ibrahim Bagudu Esq., the Chairman of the Tribunal, Honourable Justice W. I. Kpochi said that “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 1st Respondent is directed to 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/1st Respondent particularly the Voter Registers, the ballot papers, the 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 the 21st September, 2024.
“That the 1st Respondent is mandated to take immediate steps to ensure that all the Forms: EC25B, EC25B(I), EC40A, EC40C, EC40G, EC40G(I) used at the gubernatorial election of 21st of September,2024 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 1s Respondent is further directed to produce and give to the Applicants, forthwith upon payment of appropriate fees for certification, 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” among several other reliefs sought.
A member of the Applicants’ legal team, Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN) submitted the order to the INEC on Monday October 7, and was told to come back the following day (Tuesday).
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Speaking to journalists thereafter, he said, “We came here today in furtherance of our attempt to get materials to flesh up our petition in furtherance of court order received on September 29, 2024.
“When we got here today, we were unable to get an audience with the REC but we were able to meet with the head of the legal department who told us that they were preparing a schedule for our inspection.
“We have not been able to inspect because we have not been able to have access to the BIVAS (Bimodal Voter Authentication System) machines to conduct interrogation of the same with our team. So, where we are right now, is that we were told whenever the schedule is ready we would be contacted by INEC which is not what we expected today.”
All the petitioners have till next Saturday to submit their petitions.
But when asked whether he envisaged any attempt to frustrate the process so as to place a huddle on the way of the applicants to meet the deadline, the learned SAN said, “it is possible that some persons might be trying to attempt that but we will not allow that, we will continue to press on because if we are not giving access to inspect materials, we can not file our case and once we can not file before or by Saturday latest, that is the end of the matter and we will not allow them to give room for that”
Meanwhile, thousand of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday besieged the Benin City, Edo State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) protesting alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo to tamper with result sheets and other election materials in the Commission’s office ahead of the sitting of the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal.
Led by the Deputy Governor elect, Rt. Hon Dennis Idahosa, the protesters blocked the entrance into the INEC office thereby creating heavy gridlock around the area as they cautioned INEC against allowing anybody to tamper with the election documents.
