By Oludamisi Ojo
The Ekiti State Election Petition tribunal has granted leave to the All Progressives Congress(2nd respondent), to inspect the documents and other forms used by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the June 18, Governorship election in the State.

The Tribunal had earlier granted same leave to the petitioner and candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the June 18 poll, Engr. Segun Oni.

Oni filed the petition against the APC candidate Biodun Oyebanji on the premise that he scored the highest number lawful votes cast in the poll.

During the Monday’s proceeding, the Tribunal granted the prayer brought through a motion ex parte by the counsel to APC, Barrister Kabir Akingbolu, who held brief for the lead counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi(SAN), pursuant to Section 6(6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Section 47(1) of the first schedule of the Electoral Act, Section 146(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2022.

In the motion, the application prayed for “An order, granting leave to the 2nd respondent to move the applicant outside the pre-hearing session”.

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“An order of the tribunal permitting the applicant or its agents for the purpose of defending the petition, to take certified copies and conduct manual/physical inspection of all electoral materials used in the conduct of the Governorship election into the office of the Governorship of Ekiti State held on 18th June, 2022, in all the 16 local governments areas of Ekiti State”

“An order directing the 4th respondent and any other agents of the 4th respondent to allow the applicant and/or its counsel to inspect and if deemed necessary make/procure certified true copies of the BVAS, accredited voters, print-outs, scanned and transmitted documents, among others.
In his ruling, the chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice Wilfred Kpochi, granted the prayers of the APC and the 2nd respondent in the suit.

Justice Kpochi, while granting the ex-parte motion, said : “it is germane for the applicant to defend the petition. Also, the oral application by the second respondent as prayed at the tribunal is granted”.

The tribunal urged the 4th respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to grant APC, access to inspect all documents and materials used for the conduct of the Ekiti Governorship election on June 18.

Oni was seeking total nullification of Oyebanji’s victory and declare him the actual winner or order a rerun in the alternative.