A mild drama ensued on Monday afternoon at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State situated on Benin – Auchi Road when a team of legal counsels to People’s Democratic Party(PDP) and its guber candidate in the election of Saturday, September 21, 2024, Asue Ighodo, led by Olusegun Jolaawo(SAN) made an attempt to inspect electoral materials and BVAS machine used in the election in line with the orders of the state governorship election petition tribunal.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Anugbum Onuoha, did not give the applicants legal team audience. They were told that a schedule had to be prepared for their inspection on another day.
This, Jolaawo stated, will act as a huge setback to their case as the last day for them to meet up with the demand is Saturday, October 12, 2024.
“We came here today in furtherance of our attempt to get materials to flesh up our petition pursuant to a court order we received on the 29th September, 2024. But when we got here today we were not able to get audience with the REC,” Jolaawo submitted.
The tribunal based on the submission of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) and its guber candidate at the polls, Asue Ighodalo, among others granted leave to the applicants to argue the application outside of the pre-hearing session.
The first 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, EC25B(i), Forms EC40A and Forms EC40C which were utilised for the conduct of the Edo State Governorship Election held on the 21st of September, 2024.
Going further, the tribunal also mandated the Ist respondent to take immediate steps to ensure that all the Forms EC25B used at the gubernatorial election of 21st of September, 2024; EC25B(1) used at the gubernatorial election of 21st of September, 2024; EC40A used at the gubernatorial election of 21st of September, 2024; EC40C used at the gubernatorial election of 21st of September, 2024; EC40G used at the 21st September, 2024 and EC40G(1) 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.
The 1st respondent is also directed to produce and handover to the applicants the comprehensive list of all the electoral materials available in its custody for the inspections of the applicants and the taking of the Certified True Copy thereof.
All attempts to get the reaction of the INEC to this matter was not successful as its Public Relations Officer(PRO), Timidi Wariowei, did not pick several calls made to him neither did he responded to a text message regarding the matter.
Discussion about this post