The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja has issued a compelling order granting access to crucial election materials pertaining to the state’s gubernatorial election.
The ruling followed a petition filed by Muritala Yakubu Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), represented by legal counsel S.E. Aruwa SAN, seeking access to vital documents for their case.
The application, citing difficulties in obtaining essential election materials- precisely 42 items utilized during the 11th gubernatorial election -highlighted the challenges faced by the petitioner’s legal team in accessing these documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in both Abuja and Lokoja.
Presiding Tribunal Judge Justice Yusuf Ado Birnin-Kudu deemed the application as meritorious, aligning with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provisions and the Electoral Law of 2023.
Consequently, the tribunal granted the order mandating INEC to provide certified copies of the election materials within two days.
Additionally, the tribunal acceded to the request put forth by John Adele SAN, representing Muritala Ajaka of the SDP, directing INEC to grant access to the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other pertinent electronic materials utilized during the election, also within 48 hours.
