The Kogi governorship election petition tribunal has mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to furnish the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with certified copies of electoral materials related to the November 11 off-cycle election within 48 hours.
This directive encompasses allowing the SDP’s forensic experts to examine specific electoral materials crucial to their case.
The tribunal’s ruling, delivered in Lokoja on Saturday by Chairman Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, was prompted by motions filed by the SDP and its governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka, seeking access to materials necessary to challenge the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
Among the materials requested are the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result sheets from various Local Government Areas including Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi, and Bassa.
Justice Birnin-Kudu emphasized the importance of timely access to these materials to facilitate a smooth judicial process within the constitutional and electoral legal frameworks.
In response to the tribunal’s order, lead counsel to the petitioners, John Adele (SAN), highlighted their challenges in obtaining these materials from INEC since November 13, stressing the urgency of the situation.
The tribunal adjourned the case to November 29 for INEC to report compliance and for further hearings.
The SDP, represented by Mr. Ajaka, aims to contest the victory of APC and its candidate, Usman Ododo, who was declared the winner with 446,237 votes, while Mr. Ajaka garnered 259,052 votes in the election.
