INEC Allegedly Refuses PDP Access to Election Materials
Benin City, Edo State –The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has allegedly refused to comply with a court order secured by Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State.
The order, granted by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, directed INEC to allow PDP lawyers and forensic experts to inspect critical election materials used in the controversial September 21, 2024 governorship election.
Source: Facebook
The court, presided over by Hon. Justice W.I. Kpochi, had on September 29, 2024, issued the ruling after reviewing the motion filed by PDP’s legal team.
The order granted unfettered access to several key documents in INEC’s possession, including voter registers, ballot papers, and results from the BVAS machines used in the election.
The court specifically mandated the inspection of forms EC25B, EC40A, EC40C, and EC8A, which recorded voting and accreditation results from the 4,519 polling units across Edo State.
Despite the clear legal directive, INEC has reportedly stalled the process.
An unnamed source within INEC revealed that the Commission is awaiting “an order from above” before it allows the PDP team to begin their inspection of the materials.
Police Blockade and APC Intimidation Tactics
The PDP’s efforts to inspect the materials were further thwarted when officers of the Nigerian Police physically prevented the party’s lawyers and forensic experts from even reaching the gates of the INEC office in Benin City.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the police, stationed outside the premises, refused to allow the PDP team entry, in what many have described as an unlawful obstruction of justice.
The situation escalated just 10 minutes after the PDP team arrived, when a group of APC members descended on the INEC premises.
The APC members, reportedly acting in a coordinated effort, were allowed by the Police to confront the PDP lawyers, who were forced to flee the scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the thugs harassed and threatened the PDP legal team, effectively ensuring that the court-mandated inspection could not proceed.
PDP’s response
Speaking on behalf of the PDP, a senior legal representative expressed outrage at the events that unfolded, describing them as a blatant attack on democracy.
The spokesperson said:
“This is a clear case of obstruction of justice. The court has granted us the right to inspect these materials, and yet INEC and the Police are preventing us from exercising that right.
"It is becoming evident that powerful forces are working behind the scenes to sabotage the legal process."
The PDP is now considering filing for contempt of court against INEC officials and is also weighing the possibility of legal action against the Nigerian Police for their role in preventing access to the Commission’s office.
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Source: Legit.ng
