Ekiti Election Tribunal: APC Granted Order To Inspect Materials At INEC Custody

The Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal has granted the All Progressives Congress, APC, the order to inspect the election materials used for the June 18th, 2022 governorship election in Ekiti State and kept in the custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. 

In an interview by the Treasure Newspaper with the counsel to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State, Barrister Kabiru Akingbolu who held brief for Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, after the ruling in the motion exparte filed before the Election Petitions Tribunal pursuant to Section 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria contained in Section 47(1) of the first schedule of the Electoral Act, Section 146(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, Section 146(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Honourable Tribunal.

“An order granting leave to the 2nd respondent/applicant to move the applicant outside the pre-hearing session”

“An order of the tribunal permitting the applicant or its agents for the purpose of defending the petition, to take certified copies and conduct manual/physical inspection of all electoral materials used in the conduct of the Governorship election into the office of the Governorship of Ekiti State held on 18th June, 2022, in all the 16 local governments areas of Ekiti State”

“An order directing the 4th respondent and any other agents of the 4th respondent to allow the applicant and/or its counsel to inspect and if deemed necessary make/procure certified true copies of the BVAS, accredited voters, print-outs, scanned and transmitted documents,  among others.”

However, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Hon. Justice Wilfred I. Kpochi, in his ruling, granted the prayers of the APC, who is the 2nd respondent/applicant in the suit likewise the oral application by Akingbolu.

Justice Kpochi, while granting the exparte motion, stated that it is germane for the applicant to defend the petition, urging INEC to grant access to APC to inspect all documents used for the conduct of the Ekiti Governorship Election just as it had earlier done for the Social Democratic Party, SDP, which happens to be the Petitioner in the case”, he ended.