The Lagos
State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja today granted
leave to Mr Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to inspect all
polling documents and devices used in the conduct of the April 11 gubernatorial
elections in the state.
The
three-man tribunal led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo, gave the order while ruling
on a motion ex-parte filed by Agbaje’s counsel, Mr Clement Onwuenmunor.
The tribunal
also ordered the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide Certified
True Copies of all polling documents including printed data in each polling
units from the card reader
machines.
But the
tribunal rejected Agbaje’s request to inspect the polling documents and devices
used in the conduct of the March 28 Presidential Election in Lagos State.
Sirajo noted
that the tribunal was set up solely to hear and determine the petition relating
to governorship election, adding that the tribunal does not have the
jurisdiction to make such an order.
The tribunal
also rejected Agbaje’s Freedom of Information request asking the tribunal to
order INEC to produce all polling documents, and card reader machines used for
the governorship election.
He said
notices would be sent to parties for pre-hearing conference.
It will be
recalled that Agbaje lost the election to Mr Akinwunmi Ambode of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) who was declared winner by INEC. He had dragged both
INEC and Ambode before the tribunal alleging some irregularities were observed
during the election which contravened the provisions of INEC and approved
guidelines for the election.
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