The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja has granted access to election materials for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) petitioner, Muritala Ajaka.
The tribunal granted the order after the SDP’s counsel, S.E. Aruwa, SAN, filed an application expressing the inability to access documents used in the conduct of the election. Aruwa said all efforts to access the documents at INEC offices in Abuja and Lokoja had been unsuccessful.
The tribunal’s presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Ado Birnin-Kudu, said the application was meritorious and granted the SDP access to the certified copies of the election materials within two days.
The Judge also granted the SDP access to BVAS and other electronic materials used in the election within 48 hours.
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Lead counsel to Ajaka and the SDP, John Adele SAN, expressed optimism that INEC would comply with the tribunal’s ruling.
The ruling is a significant victory for Ajaka and the SDP, as it will allow them to properly prepare their case and challenge the results of the election.