Ebonyi State: Court Orders INEC To Allow PDP, APGA  Candidates  To  Inspect Results  

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to allow the Legal team of PDP and APGA Governorship Candidates to inspect all sensitive materials including the BIVAS and obtain the Certified True Copy of the original results used to declare Chief Francis Nwifuru of the APC as the winner of the March 18 Governorship Election in Ebonyi State.

This followed two Experte Applications brought by the Counsel to  Dr Ifeanyi  Odii of the PDP,  Mr Adams Oboke and Professor Bernard Odo of APGA, Mr Decency Chukwu.

The Applications were brought pursuant to Section 6 subsection 6A, and B of the 1999 Constitution as amended as well as Section 146 subsection 1 of the Electoral Act and Paragraphs 47, 1, 2, 3 of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act as amended.

Delivering the ruling, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said after studying the averment and written addresses as contained and moved in the motions; all prayers sought by the applicants had been granted except item 15 as it concerns the Application of the PDP.

He also ruled that the applicants should be allowed to scan and make photocopies of the Certified True Copies of the sensitive documents used in the conduct of the Election in the state.

It can be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Chief Nwifuru of the APC the winner of the Election having polled 199,131 to beat the PDP Candidate, Chief Odii who secured 80,197 while APGA Governorship Candidate got 52,189 to emerge third in the Poll.

Dominica Nwabufo