The Kogi governorship election petition tribunal has issued a compelling order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to furnish certified copies of materials utilized in the November 11 off-cycle election in the state.
The tribunal, led by Chairman Ado Birnin-Kudu, mandated INEC to deliver these crucial documents, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result sheets for eight local government areas within Kogi State, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) within a strict 48-hour window.
This directive comes in response to two ex-parte motions filed on November 19 by the SDP and its governorship candidate, Murtala Yakubu-Ajaka, who are challenging the victory of Usman Ododo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate. John Adele, the lead counsel for SDP and Ajaka, emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating that previous attempts to obtain certified copies from INEC had proven futile.
In addition to providing the requested documents, the tribunal further ordered INEC to permit SDP's forensic experts to examine specific electoral materials, asserting that this move aligns with Nigeria's constitution and the Electoral Act (2022). The tribunal has set a deadline of 48 hours for INEC to comply, with the case adjourned to November 29 for the submission of compliance reports and the continuation of hearings. As the legal battle unfolds, the pressure intensifies on INEC to navigate this critical demand swiftly.
