Connect with us

Politics

Edo Guber: Tribunal grants PDP’s request to inspect election materials

Published

6 months ago

on

The Edo Election Petition Tribunal on Monday granted the PDP and its candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo request to inspect all election materials used for the Sept. 21 governorship election in the state.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice W.I. Kpochi granted the order in an exparte motion filed by Ighodalo and the party.

The exparte motion dated Sept. 27 was filed by Rotimi.O. Ogunseso, SAN, with Seun Olusuyi, counsel to the applicants.

The petition and affidavits was sworn to by Osasere Adagbonyin.

In the petition, all the prayers of the petitioners were granted by the tribunal.

The Certified True Copy of the order signed by the Secretary of the tribunal, Mauzu Ibrahim, ordered INEC to produce and make available all the materials used for the election.

The documents listed by the applicants and granted by the tribunal are all forms EC8A, forms EC8B, forms EC8C, forms EC8D, forms EC8E, forms EC25B, forms EC25B(i) used at the election.

Also granted are all forms EC40A, forms EC40C, forms EC40G and EC40G(i) used at the gubernatorial election

The court also ordered INEC to make all the polling unit results , Forms EC8A uploaded to its IREV portal from the poling unit, list of accredited agents of all the political parties that participated in the gubernatorial election.

Others are, voters register for each of the polling units, total number of BVAS machines deployed to the poling units, serial number of each BVAS machines matched against the specific polling units.

Other materials to be inspected included statement and report of the number of accredited voters recorded on and extracted directly from the BVAS machines used at all the polling units for the election.

ALSO READ:  S/Court Judgement: Jigawa Assembly begins amendment of electoral law

The tribunal further ordered INEC to produce and make available to the applicants record and list of polling units where election results were not uploaded to INEC IREV portal as at Sept. 22 when the results of the election were announced.

It also directed that record of the posting of INEC adhoc staff for the 4,519 polling units, number of Permanent Voters Cards,( PVCs) collected in each polling units be made available to the applicants.

Speaking to newsmen at INEC office in Benin, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, said they were at INEC Office in furtherance of the court order and the applicants’ attempt to get the electoral materials inspected

According to Jolaawo, we came here today in furtherance of the tribunal order we obtained on Sept 29, 2024 and to get materials to fresh up our petition

“Now, when we got here today, we were not able to get audience with the REC but we were able to see the head of legal unit, who told us that they were preparing a schedule for our inspection.

“The risk involved is obvious to everybody, and the time expires on Saturday for us to file our petition and today is Monday, ” he said.(NAN)

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

Ighodalo Will Fail At Appeal Court—Edo Governor

Published

19 hours ago

on

April 5, 2025

By

Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, says Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 election, and the opposition party will fail in their bid to overturn his electoral victory at the appeal court.

On Wednesday, the Edo state governorship election petition tribunal affirmed Okpebholo as the elected governor of the state and dismissed Ighodalo’s petition.

Ighodalo, who rejected the tribunal’s ruling, said he respects the judiciary but noted that Edo people’s right to credible elections must not be compromised.

The PDP gubernatorial candidate also said his legal team has been instructed to challenge the judgment at the court of appeal.

However, speaking on Friday during a celebration hosted by his supporters, Okpebholo boasted that he would win at the appeal court and even at the supreme court.

The Edo governor said the opposition party is “wasting money on court cases,” adding that his “mandate cannot be hijacked”.

“The opposition party has been talking and shouting, but Edo people spoke very clear and loud with their votes on September 21, 2024,” Fred Itua, spokesperson to the governor, said in a statement.

“Edo people voted for the right person in Senator Monday Okpebholo. The people will speak again when the time is right.

“We have defeated them at the tribunal, and they said they want to appeal the ruling. If they like, let them appeal and even get to the Supreme Court. We will defeat them.

“They have stolen enough money from Edo State. So, they are wasting the money on court cases. If they like, let them spend the whole money they stole from the people.

ALSO READ:  Nasarawa 7th Assembly Speakership: Alaka's Congratulatory Message

“They will never steal Edo people’s mandates given to me and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the September 21st governorship election.”

In 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Okpebholo of the APC as the winner after he polled 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo, his closest challenger, who scored 247,274 votes.

Continue Reading

Politics

S’Court Verdicts: Abure Remains Chairman —LP

Published

19 hours ago

on

April 5, 2025

By

The Labour Party (LP) says the judgment of the supreme court on Friday is an endorsement of Julius Abure’s leadership.

Reacting to the verdict, Obiora Ifoh, the party’s national publicity secretary, said Abure remains the LP chairman.

The apex court had nullified the judgment recognising Abure as national chairman of the party.

The court held that the issue of leadership is an internal affair of a party over which courts lack jurisdiction.

“Supreme Court strikes out Nenadi, Abure suits, says only Political Parties can determine who their leaders are,” Ifoh wrote on the party’s X page.

“It also said that the courts shouldn’t dabble into the affairs of the political parties. Abure is still the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

The supreme court had allowed the appeal filed by Nenadi Usman, a former senator representing Kaduna south, and one other — and held that there were meritorious.

The apex court also dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the Abure-led faction of the LP, describing it as lacking in merit.

ALSO READ:  Nasarawa 7th Assembly Speakership: Alaka's Congratulatory Message
Continue Reading

Politics

Ighodalo vows to Appeal tribunal verdict upholding Okpebholo’s election victory

Published

3 days ago

on

April 3, 2025

By

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 19 September governorship election in Edo, Mr Asue Ighodalo, has said he will challenge the tribunal’s judgment at the Court of Appeal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Edo election tribunal, sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, reaffirmed Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s victory and dismissed the petitions from the PDP and Ighodalo.

Ighodalo, in a statement in Benin, said his decision to challenge the judgment aimed to protect Edo people’s collective rights and ensure they freely determine their future.

“Today, the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered its judgment on our petition challenging the outcome of the Sept. 21, 2024 election in our dear state.

“While we may not all agree with the verdict, we remain steadfast in our belief that the rule of law must continue as democracy’s foundational bedrock.

“Our pursuit of justice affirms our firm belief that Edo people’s right to freely choose their leaders through credible, free, and fair elections must always prevail.

“As a committed democrat, I respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and urge all Edo people to remain peaceful, calm, and law-abiding,” he stated.

Ighodalo said this was not the end of their journey but the beginning of a greater struggle for justice, democracy, and the sanctity of the people’s mandate.

He commended the people for their massive support, sincere love, and belief in their shared vision for a prosperous Edo, which had fuelled their journey.

“For us, this has never been about personal ambition but about our conviction to create a clear ‘Pathway to Prosperity’ for Edo while upholding democracy’s core values.

ALSO READ:  Edo 2024: Labour Group Drum Support For Dorry, Urges Party To Be Wary Of 'Migrant' Aspirants

“I have, therefore, instructed my legal team to proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge this decision, which we consider a serious miscarriage of justice.

“This is not about me or any single individual; it is about democracy’s essence, our collective right to determine our future, and our legacy for generations unborn.

“We remain resolute. We remain committed. We shall not waver in our pursuit of truth and justice,” Ighodalo said. (NAN)

Continue Reading