Ogun: Allow Akinlade, APM inspect electoral materials, Tribunal orders INEC

The Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adekunle Akinlade and his party, access to the documents used for conduct of March 9 election in the state.

Justice Chinwe Onyeabor-led three man panel gave the order at its inaugural sitting on Monday following a motion ex parte filed by the Akinlade and the party.

In the petition marked EPT/06/GOV/01/2019, the petitioners are challenging the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun and his party, APC, which were joined in the application as second and third respondents.

In his address, the Petitioners’ Counsel, Mamman Osuman SAN who appeared with Ahmed Raji SAN, told the tribunal that the order becomes necessary to allow the applicants access the electoral documents “with a view to maintaining the petition already filed before the tribunal.”

The application, according to him, was brought pursuant to section 151 sub-section 1 and 2 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Among other prayers sought were, “An order directing the 1st Respondent to forthwith grant access to the Petitioners/Applicants and their Solicitors, agents, experts and other staff to inspect, photocopy, scan, pay for and obtain certified copies of all documents used by the 1st Respondent for the conduct of the Ogun State Governorship Election held on 9th of March, 2019, for the purpose of instituting and maintaining Election Petition; the said documents being the ones contained in the schedule attached to the Supporting Affidavit to this application;

The Tribunal, however, adjourned the matter till April 9 for confirmation of service.