Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City has granted an order for the People’s Democratic Party and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to inspect all the electoral materials used by the Independence National Electoral Commission
for the conduct of the September 28 Edo State governorship election.
Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress was declared winner of the election after he polled over 319, 483 votes to defeat Pastor Ize-Iyamu who polled 253,173 votes.
The order by the tribunal followed an ex-parte motion filed by Counsel to the PDP and Pastor Ize-Iyamu, Barr. Kingsley Obamogie
Barr. Obamogie said the motion was in compliance with section 151 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended which he relied on to pray the court to grant them the order to inspect the INEC materials.
Chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice .A. Badamasi granted the order after listening the argument of Obamogie.
Other members of the tribunal are Justices E.A. Ade Sodun, and Hon. Khadi Adamu Usman who are to serve as members.
Obamogie said, “In compliance with the section 151 of the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended, we have approached and pray the court to grant us the permission to inspect all the Electoral, materials used by INEC in the just concluded Edo State Governorship Election”.
An official of the tribunal would only be inaugurated only when petitions have been filed by aggrieved parties and their candidates that participated in the governorship election.
He noted that aggrieved parties have 21 days within which to file petitions.
However, there was a heavy presence of security personnel within and outside the tribunal premises.
Their presence was to forestall any unforeseen circumstance within the court.
