Estimated reading time: 7 minute(s)
Adetutu Sobowale
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has been granted permission by the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal to examine all the sensitive materials used in the state’s recent governorship election, including the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System machines.
This was as a result of the NNPP’s motion ex-parte, which was filed on Monday, March 20, 2023, and granted by the tribunal at the Isabo court in Abeokuta.
According to the motion ex-parte, the NNPP complained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not print the name and logo of the party on the governorship ballots as required by the Electoral Act.
As a result, the party is seeking to make photocopies, scan, and record all sensitive materials used by INEC in the just-concluded election ahead of its petition.
The party aims to pray for the nullification of the 2023 election in the state.
The tribunal granted all the prayers of the NNPP, agreeing with the party that they should be allowed to inspect all sensitive materials.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Argum Ashom, agreed with the NNPP on the prayers.
Thirteen political parties participated in the governorship election in the state, including the NNPP.
He said “that materials constituting this ex- parte application, particularly the reliefs, the grounds and supporting affidavit all boil down to the fact that the applicant desires to challenge the elections conducted by the 1st respondents on the 18/3/2023.
“An order granting leave to the application to move this motion. exparte before the pre-hearing session of this honourable tribunal.
“An order respondent to forthwith grant access to the applicants and their Solicitors, agents, experts
and other staff to inspect, photocopy, scan, paid for and obtain certified true copies of all documents used by the 1st respondent for the conduct of the Ogun State Governorship Election held on the 18 of March, 2023 for the purpose of instituting and maintaining an Election Petition; the said documents which are in the custody of the 1 Respondent, and as contained in the Schedule attached to the Affidavit in support of this application.
“An order directing the 1st respondent to promptly abide by the Orders of this Tribunal made in terms of this Exparte application.
“And for such other order(s) as the honourable Tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
“That materials constituting this Ex- parte Application, particularly the reliefs, the grounds and supporting affidavit all boils down to the fact that the applicant desires to challenge the elections conducted by the 1 Respondents on the 18/3/2023.
“That in that effect the reliefs are granted as prayed.”
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