By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Anambra State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Awka has granted the applications of candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba and governor-elect of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to inspect the materials used for the conduct of November 6 and 9 2021 governorship election in the state.
Besides, members of the tribunal, at its maiden sitting, also struck out the petition filed by the candidate of Accord Party, Dr. Godwin Maduka, who had earlier withdrawn his application to challenge the outcome of the election.
However, Senator Uba of the APC and Soludo of APGA had filed motion ex parte before the tribunal to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow them access to inspect the materials used in the conduct of the election.
Uba, in his motion ex parte filed by his lawyer, Emeka Okafor, prayed the tribunal to compel Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to allow him to inspect all the materials used in the conduct of the election, including the Certified True Copies (CTC) of results of the poll.
The petitioner, in his prayers, is supported with 15-paragraph affidavit and written address.
On his part, Soludo, through his lawyer, A. Ezeokenwa, supported his motion ex parte with an 18-paragraph affidavit and written address, which prayed the tribunal to allow him to inspect all materials used in the conduct of the election, including access to the CTC of the election results.
Ruling separately on Uba’s petition, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice D. Mohammed, said the tribunal, having considered the application and being satisfied, “is hereby ordering INEC to allow him to inspect the materials used in the conduct of the election.
Ruling separately on Uba’s petition, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice D. Mohammed, said the tribunal, having considered the application and being satisfied, “is hereby ordering INEC to allow him to inspect the materials used in the conduct of the election.”
According to her, the inspection must be carried out in the presence of the applicant/respondents, police and Department of State Services (DSS).
Also ruling separately on Soludo’s motion ex parte, Justice Mohammed granted his petition to inspect all the materials used in the conduct of the election.
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The tribunal chairman said that the tribunal, having listened to the application, was satisfied, and urged the INEC to allow the governor-elect access to inspect the material for election, including the CTC of results.
The tribunal also ordered that the inspection must be done in the presence of the applicant, respondents, police and DSS.
In his motion of notice to strike out his petition, Maduka, through his lawyer, N. D. Agu, urged the tribunal to strike out his petition, having lost interest in pursuing it in court.
He expressed his determination to withdraw the petition because he did not serve any of the respondents in the suit.
Maduka sought the tribunal striking out his petition, since he was no longer interested in continuing with it.
Ruling on the motion, Justice Mohammed said that since the applicant had withdrawn his petition, the tribunal had no option than to strike out the said application.
“The application is hereby struck out” the tribunal chairman ruled.
