Ogun guber: INEC complies with Tribunal ruling, releases election materials to NNPP

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun state, has complied with the directive of the Governorship and House of Assembly Petition Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun state ordering the Commission to allow the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to have access to all election materials used for the conduct of the March 18th elections.

The INEC on Thursday gave access to the lead counsel for the NNPP and the party gubernatorial candidate, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo in the state, Barrister Izunya Isaac Dale of Izunya Izunya & Co to inspect, photocopy, scan, pay for, and obtain certified true copies of all the documents used in the conduct of the governorship election held on March 18, 2023.

Recall that the National Secretary of the NNPP, Dipo Olayoku, through a letter dated 24th March 2023 informed the office of Izunya Izunya & Co to be the lead Counsel in any petition concerning the 18th March elections.

The letter with the heading: ‘Letter of instructions to file petitions at the Governorship and State Assembly Elections Tribunal, Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State’ reads: “Take this as instructions to lead Izunya Isaac Dale to file petitions on behalf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Governorship and State Assembly Elections holding at Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“The petitions are to challenge the outcome of Governorship and State Assembly Elections conducted on the 18th March 2023.”

Following this, the Ogun state chapter of the NNPP approached the Tribunal, and three Judges of the election tribunal, however, granted NNPP’s request to inspect, photocopy, scan and record all sensitive materials used by INEC.

The three judges namely; Justice Arum Igyem Ashom, Justice Eno Ikpi Ebri, and Justice Khadi Ibrahim Ya’u unanimously agreed in their ruling on the exparte motion brought by the counsels of NNPP to allow the party inspects the INEC’s materials.

After the judges unanimously agreed in their ruling on the exparte motion brought by the counsels to NNPP to allow the party inspects the INEC’s materials, the party lead Counsel, Izunya Isaac Dale approached the INEC through a letter dated 5th April 2023.

The letter, which was addressed to the Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with the heading: ‘Application to inspect and obtain certified through copies of electoral materials used in the conduct of Ogun State Governorship Election reads, “We are solicitors to New Nigeria Peoples Party (hereinafter referred to as our client) and on its behalf, we write. A copy of our letter of authority is hereby attached for your kind consideration.

“We wish to bring to your notice that our client was graciously granted an order by the Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting in Abeokuta, on the 24 days of March. 2023 to inspect and obtain CTC of electoral materials used in the conduction of the Ogun State Governorship election. The said order is hereby attached for your kind consideration.

“Pursuant to the above order we hereby apply for certified copies of the following documents:
All INEC results in sheets-form ECB Series; EC8 A, EC8B, ECBC, EC8D and EC8E; Certificate of return of the 2 respondent; Copies of Ballot papers used in the election.”

Consequent, to this letter, the INEC on Thursday yielded to the request and allowed the lead Counsel, Izunya Isaac Dale to inspect all the materials and made photocopies of all materials requested.

 

 

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