Edo Guber Tussle: APC Raises Dust over PDP’s Attempt to Inspect Election Materials on Court Order

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Thousands of supporters of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State on Monday thronged the Ikpoba-Hill, Benin City, headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protest alleged plan by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election in the state, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, to tamper with result sheets and other election materials in the Commission’s custody ahead of the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal hearing.

The protesters, who were led by the deputy governor-elect, Dennis Idahosa, blocked the entrance into the INEC office thereby creating gridlock around the area. They cautioned INEC against allowing anybody to tamper with the election documents.

Perhaps unknown to them, Ighodalo and the PDP had obtained a court enrolled order directing the INEC, to, among other things, hand over the comprehensive list of all the electoral materials available in its custody for their inspection, and “the taking of the Certified True Copy thereof.”

The order was given in the suit marked EPT/ED/GOV/01M/2024 between Ighodalo Asuerinme and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as applicants, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Okpebholo Monday and the All-Progressives Congress (APC) as Respondents.

In the enrolled order, which was dated Sunday September 29, 2024, and signed by the Secretary of the Tribunal, Mu’azu Ibrahim Bagudu, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Honourable Justice W. I. Kpochi, said having critically examined the details of the reliefs sought, the supporting Affidavit and Written Address of Counsel, the Application was granted in the following terms:

“That the 1st Respondent is directed to grant the Applicants or their Solicitors and Forensic documents Examiners unfettered access to and open up for inspection all electoral documents or any document in the custody of the National Chief Electoral Commissioner or any officer of the Commission/1st Respondent particularly the Voter Registers, the ballot papers, the BVAS machines, Forms EC25B, EC 25B(1), Forms EC40A and Forms EC40C which were utilised for the conduct of the Edo State Governorship Election held on the 21st September, 2024.

“That the 1st Respondent is mandated to take immediate steps to ensure that all the Forms: EC25B, EC25B(I), EC40A, EC40C, EC40G, EC40G(I) used at the gubernatorial election of 21st of September, 2024 either in the custody of the Chief National Electoral Commissioner, Resident Electoral Commissioner of Edo State or any other officer of the Commission are preserved kept temper-proof and secure pending the filing, hearing and determination of the Petition to be filed by the Applicants.

“That the 1s Respondent is further directed to produce and give to the Applicants, forthwith upon payment of appropriate fees for certification, list of accredited agents of all the political parties that participated in the Edo State gubernatorial election. Voters register for each of the polling units” among several other reliefs sought.

A member of the Applicants’ legal team, Olusegun Jolaowo, senior advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) submitted the order to the INEC and was told to come back the following day (Tuesday).

Speaking to journalists thereafter, Jolaowo said, “We came here today in furtherance of our attempt to get materials to flesh up our petition in furtherance of court order received on September 29, 2024.

“When we got here today, we were unable to get an audience with the REC, but we were able to meet with the head of the legal department who told us that they were preparing a schedule for our inspection.

“We have not been able to inspect because we have not been able to have access to the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) machines to conduct interrogation of the same with our team. So, where we are right now, is that we were told whenever the schedule is ready, we would be contacted by INEC which is not what we expected today.” All the petitioners have till next Saturday to submit their petitions.