The Governorship Election Petitions sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, on Tuesday granted leave to the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ifeanyi Odii of and his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) counterpart, Professor Bernard Odoh of to inspect the materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the March 18 governorship election in the state.
The leave followed two separate Exparte Applications filed by Odii and Odoh, who came second and third respectively in the governorship election which INEC declared Chief Francis Nwifuru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner.
Ọdịị and Odoh are alleging non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 in addition to violence and rigging which they claimed marred the election.
The PDP and APGA candidates had vowed to challenge the election in court.
Odoh’s lawyer, Ubah Chukwu prayed the court to grant the Exparte application brought before it pursuant to Section 146 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Paragraph 4 of the first Schedule of the Electoral Act of 2022 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court as referenced by Section 6 (6) A & B of the 1999 Constitution.
The application which was predicated on grounds, sought for reliefs, adding that a schedule of the documents to interrogate the respondent (INEC) was also contained in the application supported by an affidavit.
Counsel to the applicant adopted all the averments contained in the affidavit and urged the Court to grant the application.
In the other application, Odii’s lawyer, Adams Opoke holding brief for Chris Uche(SAN) also prayed the appellate court to grant the reliefs sought in the motion exparte in the interest of justice.
He stated that the motion was brought pursuant to Section 86 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended Section 146 of the Electoral Act 2022 and paragraphs 47 of the first Schedule of the Electoral Act 2022 under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court.
Opoke also informed the Court that they had deposes an affidavit and are relying on all the averments therein in urging the court to grant the application.
After listening to the applicants, the presiding judge, Lekan Ogunmoye subsequently granted the request of the two applicants.
