The Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which was convening in Lokoja, has been put on indefinite hold till the Social Democratic Party finishes inspecting the election materials.
During the reopened hearing on Wednesday, the SDP stated that while the INEC was complying with the materials inspection mandated by the tribunal’s ruling, they were requesting an extension of time.
The panel had mandated that INEC provide the SDP with verified copies of the electoral materials for the state’s off-cycle poll on November 11 within 48 hours.
It further mandated that INEC permit the SDP’s forensic specialists to review certain election-related materials.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result sheets for the local government areas of Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi, and Bassa are among the documents.
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The Lokoja tribunal decided on Saturday that the SDP had asked for the materials to support its challenge against the All Progressives Congress’ election triumph.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, gave the order following two ex-parte motions filed on Nov. 19 by the SDP and by its governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka.
The hearing was postponed until after the materials inspection was finished by Judge Birnin-Kudu.
Mr. John Adele (SAN), the petitioners’ principal attorney, had previously informed the court that while there had been a minor hiccup that delayed the meeting by 48 hours, overall attempts to acquire certified copies of the materials used in the six local government areas from INEC had been successful.
At the electoral petitions tribunal, the SDP and Muritala Yakubu are contesting the APC’s and its candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo,’s victory.
Yakubu-Ajaka received 259,052 votes, narrowly losing to Usman Ododo, who received 446,237 votes.
