Presidential Election Petition Tribunal: INEC contend Atiku, Obi’s suit on BVAS inspection, ruling Wednesday

The Independent National Electoral Commission – INEC has asked the Presidential Election Petition Court to vary the orders that were granted to the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively, to inspect materials used for the last presidential election.

INEC, in a motion on notice filed on March 4, is praying the court to vary the order which restrained it from tampering with materials used for the election.

The commission said it needed to reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for the next round of elections.

The appellate court had on March 3 granted leave to Atiku and Obi to inspect election materials used by INEC in the conduct of the February 25 presidential election.

A panel of the appellate court led by Justice Joseph Ikyegh granted the permission following two separate ex parte applications filed by Atiku and Obi, who came second and third respectively in the presidential election won by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

 

Meanwhile, the Presidential Election Petition Court has scheduled ruling on the motion by the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking to vary the orders granted the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to inspect materials used for last presidential election for wednesday.

A three-member panel, presided over by Justice Joseph Ikyegh, chose the date after taking arguments from parties in relation to the motion by INEC.

While INEC’s lawyer, Ibrahim Inuwa (SAN) prayed the court grant the prayers in the motion, lawyer to Peter Obi and Labour Party, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) urged the court to dismiss it.

A source explained that the application became necessary following the order restraining INEC from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until the due inspection was conducted and Certified True Copies of them were issued, noting that the commission would require sufficient time to reconfigure the BVAS needed to conduct the polls.

The official further said the order was pertinent as not getting it could result in the postponement of the Saturday governorship and state houses of assembly elections.