Tribunal orders INEC to allow Abia PDP access materials used in guber poll

The Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) access to all materials used by the Commission to conduct the March 18 governorship election in the state.

The PDP, in suit number EPT/AB/GOV/01/2023, is challenging declaration of Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) winner of the governorship poll. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice G.M. Gwatana, who issued the order, while ruling on the motion ex parte filed by counsel to PDP, C.O. Nwaogu and C.C. Nwogu, also granted leave to the PDP to obtain nomination forms submitted by political parties that contested the governorship election in the state.

The tribunal further ordered INEC to allow PDP access the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, electoral materials, collation officers’ report and all ballot papers used for conduct of the election.