The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, presided over by Justice Yusuf Ado Birnin-Kudu in Lokoja, has granted Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and his legal team access to the documents used in the November 11 gubernatorial election.
This decision follows an application made by Ajaka’s counsel, S.E. Aruwa SAN, who faced challenges obtaining the election documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices. In response to the application, the Tribunal has directed INEC to comply within 24 hours.
Justice Birnin-Kudu acknowledged the validity of the application under the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Law of 2023. Consequently, he ordered INEC to provide certified copies of the election documents within two days to John Adele, SAN, and S.E. Aruwa (SAN), who are representing Ajaka and the SDP.
Additionally, the Tribunal has mandated INEC to grant access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electronic materials used in the election within 48 hours, addressing a specific request made by Ajaka.
It’s worth noting that Murtala Ajaka participated in the governorship election held in Kogi State on November 11, 2023. Despite securing the second position, he was defeated by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usman Ododo. The Tribunal’s decision to grant access to election documents and electronic materials marks a significant step in the legal process as Ajaka seeks to address issues arising from the electoral outcome.
