Edo: Release electoral materials to PDP for inspection, tribunal orders INEC

• Deputy gov-elect, APC youth keep watch at INEC office

The Election Petition Tribunal for the September 21 Edo State governorship election has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release all electoral materials used during the poll to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for inspection. This is as the deputy governor-elect, Dennis Idahosa, and some youth kept watch at INEC headquarters in Benin City.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, granted the order in an ex parte motion filed by Ighodalo and the party. The motion, with suit number EPT/ED/GOV/01M/2024 and dated September 27, 2024, was filed by Rotimi Ogunseso (SAN) with Seun Olusuyi, counsel to the applicants.

In the petition sworn to by Osasere Adagbonyin, all the petitioners’ prayers were granted by the tribunal.

The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order signed by the secretary of the tribunal, Muazu Bagudu, ordered INEC to produce and make available to the applicants all the materials used for the election before the pre-hearing session.

The documents listed by the applicants are all Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, EC25B, and EC25B(i) used at the election. Others are all Forms EC40A, EC40C, EC40G and EC40G(i) used for the poll.

The court also ordered INEC to make all the polling unit results, Forms EC8A uploaded to its INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal from the polling units, and the list of accredited agents of all the political parties that participated in the gubernatorial election.

However, Idahosa led some youths, who were carrying the party’s flag and chanting APC!, marched through the streets, accusing Governor Godwin Obaseki of plotting to invade the INEC office.

“We are here at the INEC premises today because, as of yesterday, we heard from a reliable source that the governor had mobilised to come and invade the INEC premises. While we are here as concerned Edo youths, we would not allow that to happen. That is why we are here to ensure stability, law and order in this place,” one of the youths said.

Security operatives were also seen around the INEC premises in Benin City. But Obaseki’s camp is yet to comment on the claims.

The development came after the Edo governorship election, in which the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was declared winner by INEC.

Feeling strongly about the result, the PDP alleged that the polls were marred by irregularities and vowed to challenge Okpebholo’s declaration as the winner.