Kogi Tribunal: Court Orders INEC To Grant Ajaka Access To Election Materials

The Kogi State poll Petitions Tribunal, which met on Saturday in the state capital of Lokoja, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow Social Democratic Party candidate for governor, Murtala Ajaka, access to poll materials.

The order came about in response to an application submitted by S.E. Aruwa, SAN, who expressed frustration over not being able to acquire certain documents—42 items in particular—that were needed to carry out the state gubernatorial election.

Aruwa claimed that all attempts to obtain these documents at the INEC headquarters in Lokoja and Abuja had failed, necessitating the tribunal’s order to continue the case.

According to Justice Yusuf Birnin-Kudu, the presiding tribunal judge, the plea was meritorious and compliant with both the electoral law and the constitution.

He approved the request that the first respondent, INEC, provide certified copies of the materials used for the gubernatorial election to Ajaka’s legal representatives, led by John Adele, SAN, and Aruwa, SAN, within a two-day period.

Additionally, Adele’s requests to force INEC to provide access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and other electronically used materials within 48 hours were allowed by the tribunal chairman.

Speaking following the verdict, Adele expressed hope that INEC will abide by the tribunal’s decision.