By; RALPH OKHIRIA, Benin.
The Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City has granted the exparte motion filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, an order to carry out inspect of all the election materials used by the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the gubernatorial election held on September 28 in the state.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, Barr. Kingsley Obamogie (SAN) presented the nine paragraphs affidavit before the three members panel of judges presided by Hon. Justice .A. Badamasi as its Chairman, Hon. Justice E.A. Ade Sodun and Hon. Khadi Adamu Usman as members.
Barr. Obamogie said it was in compliance with the section 151 of the electoral act, 2010 as amended which they rely on to pray the court to grant them the order to inspect the INEC materials.
“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”, he stated.
But chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice .Badamasi having studied the 9 paragraphs affidavit submitted by the petitioners, however granted them the exparte motion.
There was a heavy presence of armed security agents within and outside the court premises.
INEC had on September 29, 2016 declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as winner of the September 28, gubernatorial election in Edo state but the PDP and its candidate rejected the result.
