In a significant development at the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the presiding Judge, Justice Yusuf Birnin-Kudu, granted Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, access to certified true copies of election documents related to the November 11 election in Kogi State.
Lead Counsel to Muritala Ajaka, John Adele, SAN, and S.E. Aruwa, SAN, raised concerns before the tribunal, alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had denied their legal team access to certified true copies of crucial documents used in the election.
Justice Birnin-Kudu, citing the Constitution, 1999 as amended and the Electoral Act, 2023, compelled INEC to provide Ajaka’s legal team access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BiVAS) and other electronic materials within 48 hours.
Expressing optimism, Adele stated his belief that INEC would comply with the tribunal’s ruling.
S.E. Aruwa highlighted that the documents to be accessed comprise 42 items used in the state governorship election, crucial for advancing their case.
This development adds a new dimension to the ongoing legal proceedings, as the SDP candidate seeks transparency in accessing the election materials vital for his case before the tribunal.
Recall that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), conducted Gubernatorial elections that was described as the worst election in the history of Nigeria in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states on 11th November 2023
