The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja has granted the counsel for the first applicant in the governorship election petition, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), permission to access materials and documents related to the November 11 gubernatorial election.
Justice Yusuf Ado Birnin-Kudu issued the order on Saturday, compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the first respondent, to comply within 24 hours.
The order was prompted by an application filed by S.E Aruwa SAN, representing the plaintiff, who cited difficulties in accessing the 42 items essential for proceeding with the case.
Aruwa noted that attempts to obtain the documents from INEC offices in Abuja and Lokoja had been unsuccessful.
In his preliminary ruling, Justice Birnin-Kudu said the application was meritorious in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended and the Electoral Law 2023.
He therefore granted the application that the first respondent allow John Adele, SAN, and S E Aruwa SAN, counsels to Ajaka and SDP, certified copies of documents used for the governorship election within two days.
Equally, the chairman of the Tribunal granted the prayers of Adele to compel INEC to also grant him access to Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electronic materials used within 48 hours.
