The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun state, has complied with the directive of Governorship and House of Assembly Petition Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun state ordering the Commission to allow the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to have access to all election materials used for the conduct of the March 18th election
The INEC on Thursday gave access to the lead counsel for the NNPP and the party gubernatorial candidate, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo in the state, Barrister Izunya Isaac Dale of Izunya Izunya & Co to inspect, photocopy, scan, pay for, and obtain certified true copies of all the documents used in the conduct of the governorship election held on March 18, 2023
It could be recalled that the National Secretary of the NNPP, Dipo Olayoku through a letter dated 24th March, 2023 informed the office of Izunya Izunya & Co to be the lead Counsel in any petition concerning the 18th March election
According to the letter with the heading: ‘Letter of instructions to file petitions at the Governorship and State Assembly Elections Tribunal, Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State’ reads: “Take this as instructions to lead Izunya Isaac Dale to file petitions on behalf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Governorship and State Assembly Elections holding at Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun Stat
“The petitions are to challenge the outcome of Governorship and State Assembly Elections conducted on the 18th March, 2023
Following this, the Ogun state chapter of the NNPP approached the Tribunal, and three Judges of the election tribunal, however, granted NNPP’s request to inspect, photocopy, scan and record all sensitive materials used by INEC
The three judges namely; Justice Arum Igyem Ashom, Justice Eno Ikpi Ebri, and Justice Khadi Ibrahim Ya’u unanimously agreed in their ruling on the exparte motion brought by the counsels of NNPP to allow the party inspects the INEC’s materials
After the judges unanimously agreed in their ruling on the exparte motion brought by the counsels to NNPP to allow the party inspects the INEC’s materials, the party lead Counsel, Izunya Isaac Dale approached the INEC through a letter dated 5th April, 202
The letter, which was addressed to the Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with the heading: ‘Application to inspect and obtain certified through copies of electoral materials used in the conduct of Ogun State Governorship Election reads, “We are solicitors to New Nigeria Peoples Party (hereinafter referred to as our client) and on its behalf we write. A copy of our letter of authority is hereby attached for your kind consideratio
“We wish to bring to your notice that our client was graciously granted an order by the Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting in Abeokuta, on the 24 day of March. 2023 to inspect and obtain CTC of electoral materials used in the conduction of Ogun State Governorship election. The said order is hereby attached for your kind consideratio
“Pursuant to the above order we hereby apply for certified through copies of the following document
All INEC results sheets-form ECB Series; EC8 A, EC8B, ECBC, EC8D and EC8E; Certificate of return of the 2 respondent; Copies of Ballot papers used in the election”
Consequent, upon this letter, the INEC on Thursday yielded to the request and allowed the lead Counsel, Izunya Isaac Dale to inspect all the materials and made photocopy of all materials requested for. .s:n.n.3.. . “.e.s.. s.aterials requested for.
