The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Lokoja, has granted an application filed by Counsel to Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to allow access to election materials and documents used in the recently concluded governorship election.
The order was made following the expressed inability of the petitioner’s counsel to access the necessary documents for the case.
S.E Aruwa, SAN, representing Muritala Ajaka, highlighted that efforts to obtain the required documents from both the INEC office in Abuja and Lokoja had been unsuccessful, prompting the application for a tribunal order.
The Presiding Tribunal Judge, Justice Yusuf Ado Birnin-Kudu, deemed the application meritorious in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and the Electoral Law 2023.
The tribunal ordered INEC to grant access to certified copies of materials used in the governorship election within two days.
Justice Birnin-Kudu also granted the request to compel INEC to provide access to BVAS and other electronic materials used in the election within 48 hours.
Lead Counsel to Muritala Ajaka and the SDP, John Adele SAN, expressed optimism that INEC would comply with the tribunal’s ruling.
