Court grants Bauchi PDP, NNPP candidates leave to inspect election materials

Governor, National and State Council Electoral Tribunal, the Bauchion Saturday, granted leave to Garba Dahiru of the PDP, to access sensitive materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the February 25 NASS election in the state.

Mr. Dahiru contested and lost the Bauchi South Senatorial District election to Shehu Umar of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as announced by INEC.

A three-member panel, presided over by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, gave the order in Bauchi, after ex-parte applications were filed by candidates and parties.

Those involved in the matter are Shehu Umar and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as well as INEC.

Earlier, the main counsel for the applicant, Alex Hassan, has asked the court to compel INEC to allow his client to retrieve documents in the custody of the Commission for use in the election.

He said the document would help his petition against the emergence of Umar APC as the winner of the election.

In his ruling, Mr Kpochi said the application had merit and was granted.

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He, therefore, directed INEC to make available all election materials used to conduct the Bauchi South Senatorial District election to the applicants, their agents and advisers.

“The petitioners should take certified copies and conduct a manual and physical inspection of all election materials used to conduct the Bauchi South Senatorial District election held on February 25, 2023,” he said.

Meanwhile, the court also granted permission to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Mijinyawa Mohammed, to access election materials distributed by INEC for the Bauchi North Senatorial District election.

The petitioner, through his Counsel, Yaldami Gambo, said the order would allow him and his party to inspect all election materials used by the referee to prepare the petition.

Also named as a respondent in the matter is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In giving the order, Justice Wilfred Kpochi said the application had merit.

He, therefore, gave permission to the petitioner and his counsel to approach INEC and obtain certified copies of the election materials used in the February 25 Bauchi North Senatorial District election.

(IN)