Ondo tribunal grants PDP access to inspect election materials

The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, to inspect materials used for the October 10, 2020 governorship election in the state.

Justice Umar Abubakar, who gave the ex-parte order at the inaugural sitting held in Akure, yesterday, also granted an order for substituted service to the winner of the poll, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

Jegede had sought redress at the tribunal, appealing that the election be upturned in his favour.

He premised his litigation on four grounds, ranging from electoral violence, intimidation, voting irregularities and inadequacy in the emergence of Akeredolu at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.

His counsel, Jamiu Makinde, had in the motion ex-parte sought an order to serve the defendants through substituted service by pasting the petition on the notice board of the tribunal.

He also sought an order allowing access to materials used for the conduct of the governorship election.

The counsel argued that the electoral materials in Owo, Ese-Odo, Ilaje and Okitipupa local councils, among others, must be scrutinised.

Chairman of the tribunal, while granting the order, said that the petitioner could advertise the served processes in any newspaper circulating within its jurisdiction.

He also allowed the petitioner to access the election materials in custody of INEC within the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for a period of five working days.