Grace Egbo
Ebonyi State Election Petitions Tribunal has granted permission to Mr Ifeanyi Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and Bernard Odoh of the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) to inspect documents used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the March 18 governorship election.
The presiding judge, Lekan Ogunmoye granted the permission on Tuesday following the Exparte Applications filed by Odii and Odoh, who came second and third respectively in the governorship election won by Francis Nwifuru of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ọdịị and Odoh are alleging substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 in addition to violence and rigging which they claimed marred the conduct and outcome of the election.
They had in separate statements after the election vowed to challenge the outcome of the results in court.
They had approached the Tribunal for permission to inspect the materials used by INEC in the conduct of the election.
Odoh’s lawyer, Ubah Chukwu in arguing the motion prayed the court to grant the Exparte application brought before it under Section 146 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Paragraph 4 of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act of 2022 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court as referenced by Section 6 (6) A & B of the 1999 Constitution.
The application which was predicated on grounds, sought relief, adding that a schedule of the documents to interrogate the respondent (INEC) was also contained in the application supported by an affidavit.
Counsel to the applicant adopted all the averments contained in the affidavit and urged the Court to grant the application.
In the other application, Odii’s lawyer, Adams Opoke holding a brief for Chris Uche(SAN) also prayed the appellate court to grant the reliefs sought in the motion exparte in the interest of justice.
He stated that the motion was brought under Section 86 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended by Section 146 of the Electoral Act 2022 and paragraphs 47 of the first Schedule of the Electoral Act 2022 under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court.
Opoke also informed the Court that they had deposed an affidavit and are relying on all the averments therein in urging the court to grant the application.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Elections: Nigeria sitting on time bomb – Primate Ayodele
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has revealed that the democracy of Nigeria is under attack following…
Dancing continues as Appeal court dismisses Tribunal verdict, reinstates Adeleke as Osun governor
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the judgement of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election of…
Ramadan: Leave betting for fasting, Naira Marley advises
Nigerian singer and founder of Marlian Records, Naira Marley, has advised his Muslim against betting during…
Breaking: Enough is enough, Tinubu tells aggrieved presidential candidates
President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has raised the alarm over an allegedly orchestrated plot to truncate his…
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes most-capped international footballer of all time
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has become the most-capped men’s international footballer of all time after…
