From Priscilla Ediare, Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti has granted the requests of Chief Segun Oni, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the June 18 governorship election, who is challenging the victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and governor-elect, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, in the recently concluded poll in the state.
The tribunal which had its inaugural sitting on Tuesday granted Oni’s two requests to serve the governor-elect, Oyebanji and other respondents to the petition by substituted means and for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant him unhindered access to inspect all materials used for the election.
The tribunal was led by Justice Wilfred I Kpochi, as chairman, Justice Sa’ad I. Zadawa and Justice Jacob A Atsen as members.
The tribunal granted the prayers of the SDP candidate, Oni, in the motion ex-parte: “an order of leave to effect the service of the petitioner and other processes in the proceedings on the 1st, 3rd and 5th respondents by substituted means, through the national secretary or any other officer of the All Progressives Congress(APC) at No. 40, Blantyre Crescent Wuse 2, Abuja FCT.”
Read also: EU’s appraisal of Nigeria’s military operation fair – Group
The tribunal granted another prayer for “an order permitting the applicant or its agents for the purpose of prosecuting its petition to take certified true 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 LGAs of Ekiti State.”
Justice Kpochi, the chairman of the three-man panel, who read the ruling, said the grounds were the pillars that support the applicant’s petition to continue his petitions at the tribunal.
According to him, they found merit in the motion ex-parte and ordered INEC to give unhindered access to the petitioner to inspect the electoral materials, which include, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), all ballot papers, voters registered, among others.
Earlier at the inaugural sitting, Justice Kpochi had solicited the cooperation of all parties in the election petition tribunal in the state for successful proceedings, warning that there should be no distractions.
The Solicitor-General in Ekiti State, Mr Lawrence Ojo, welcomed the tribunal justices to Ekiti and wished them successful deliberations while Mr Oluwayomi Ojo, on behalf of the petitioner wished the justices a good stay but believed that justice would be served at the end of the tribunal.
Mr FD Falade, OC, Legal Police, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Mr Moronkeji Adesina, noted that all security measures had been put in place to ensure a smooth stay of the justices in Ekiti.
Other counsels to the SDP candidate present at the inaugural session were, Barristers Owoseni Ajayi(Lead Counsel), Biodun Fasakin, Morakinyo Ogele and Ezekiel Arogundade.
Recall that Oni had on July 7 submitted a 1097-page petition before the Tribunal in Ado-Ekiti, calling for the reversal of the declaration of Oyebanji as the winner of the election.
The petitioner had last week accused the respondents, Oyebanji, his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye and the Yobe State governor and former national caretaker chairman of the APC, Mai Mala Buni of deliberately evading service to begin the petition before the tribunal.
Oni also urged the court to declare him the winner of the poll, claiming that he scored the highest number of lawful votes in the poll.
The former governor urged the Tribunal to in the alternative nullify the election and order a rerun in view of alleged widespread manipulations that characterised the election.