The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kogi State on Wednesday adjourned its sitting indefinitely, pending the completion of the inspection of election materials by the Social Democratic Party....For More CONTINUE THE FULL READING▶▶
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced that All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman, won the election with 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Yakubu-Ajaka, secured 259,052 votes.
The SDP and Muritala Yakubu are challenging the victory of the APC and its candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo, at the election petitions tribunal.
The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja ordered INEC to release and allow the Social Democratic Party (SDP), access to election materials used in the November 11 off-Circle election within 48 hours.
The directive stems from an application filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), represented by counsel, S.E Aruwa SAN, who faced difficulties obtaining crucial documents essential for their case.
Aruwa highlighted unsuccessful attempts to secure these documents at both the INEC offices in Abuja and Lokoja, prompting the Tribunal’s intervention.
However, the SDP at the resumed hearing on Wednesday said the INEC was cooperating with the inspection of materials as granted by the order of the tribunal but sought more time.
Justice Birnin-Kudu, at the resumed hearing, adjourned pending the completion of the inspection of materials.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr John Adele (SAN), had earlier informed the court that efforts to obtain certified copies of materials used in the six local government areas from INEC had been fruitful, except for a slight hitch, leading to a delay in meeting the 48-hour deadline.
