TRIBUNAL TO INEC: ALLOW APGA, PDP INSPECT MATERIALS FOR EBONYI GUBER POLL

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the legal team of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Governorship candidates to inspect all sensitive materials, including the BIVAS and obtain the Certified True Copy of the original results used to declare Chief Francis Nwifuru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the March 18 Governorship Election in Ebonyi State.

This followed two experte applications brought by the counsel to Dr. Ifeanyichukwuma Odii of the PDP, Mr. Adams Oboke; and that of the Professor Bernard Odo of APGA, Mr. Decency Chukwu.

The applications were brought pursuant to Section 6 subsection 6A, and B of the 1999 Constitution as amended as well as Section 146 subsection 1 of the Electoral Act and Paragraphs 47 (1,2,3) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act as amended.

Delivering the ruling, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, said after studying the averment and written addresses as contained and moved in the motions, all prayers sought by the applicants had been granted except item 15 as it concerned the application of the PDP.

He also ruled that the applicants should be allowed to scan and make photocopies of the Certified True Copies of the sensitive documents used in the conduct of the election in the state.

It can be recalled that INEC had declared Chief Nwifuru of the APC the winner of the governorship election in Ebonyi State with a total of 199,131 votes to beat the PDP Candidate, Chief Odii, who secured 80,197 while APGA governorship candidate got 52,189 to emerge third.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU