Tag Archives: Election Materials

Tribunal Grants Ize-Iyamu Order To Inspect Election Materials

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Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City has granted an order for the People’s Democratic Party and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to inspect all the electoral materials used by the Independence National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the September 28 Edo State governorship election.

Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress was declared winner of the election after he polled over 319, 483 votes to defeat Pastor Ize-Iyamu who polled 253,173 votes.

The order by the tribunal followed an ex-parte motion filed by Counsel to the PDP and Pastor Ize-Iyamu, Barr. Kingsley Obamogie

Barr. Obamogie said the motion was in compliance with section 151 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended which he relied on to pray the court to grant them the order to inspect the INEC materials.

Chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice .A. Badamasi granted the order after listening the argument of Obamogie.

Other members of the tribunal are Justices E.A. Ade Sodun, and Hon. Khadi Adamu Usman who are to serve as members.

Obamogie said, “In compliance with the section 151 of the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended, we have approached and pray the court to grant us the permission to inspect all the Electoral, materials used by INEC in the just concluded Edo State Governorship Election”.

An official of the tribunal would only be inaugurated only when petitions have been filed by aggrieved parties and their candidates that participated in the governorship election.

He noted that aggrieved parties have 21 days within which to file petitions.

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Tribunal grants Ize-Iyamu order to inspect election materials

Edo guber: Army confirms arrest of miscreants with election materials

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Amid the controversy over the arrest of some persons alleged to be in possession of sensitive election materials, the Nigerian Army has confirmed holding some miscreants but denied that they were journalists.

Soldiers of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were alleged to have raided a hotel where some people alleged to be journalists were arrested.

An online publication was said to have made the allegation. But, a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR, Col. Sani Usman refuted the report.

The statement explained that none of those arrested explained that they were journalists, neither did they show any means of identification to that effect.

On the contrary, the army said: “A number of incriminating items including the Independent National Electoral Commission’s sensitive materials were recovered from them.”

Usman confirmed that the troops actually arrested a deserted soldier and other suspected miscreants in possession of some election materials.

The statement titled “Re: Edo Elections: Soldiers, DSS Molest and Arrests 10 Journalist in Edo” reads in part: “It is important to state that sequel to the prevailing security situation in the state, which led to the postponement of the earlier scheduled gubernatorial election, there were credible security reports that some unpatriotic persons have hired hoodlums with the intention of causing mayhem during the forthcoming election.

“The reports further showed that the suspected hoodlums have been lodged in some hotels within Benin City and its environs. Acting on this, the DSS, in conjunction with troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army carried out cordon and search operations in the suspected areas.

“This led to the arrest of 10 suspected persons in one of the hotels. Among the suspects arrested was a deserted soldier. It is pertinent to state that none of the arrested suspects identified himself as a journalist or mentioned the media he reports for, contrary to the allegations of the online media.”

However, the statement added that the arrested persons were well handled, in line with the operational codes of the services and the tradition of dignified human treatment.

It stated that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, has zero tolerance for unprofessional and unethical conduct such as harassing and molesting innocent citizens.

Reports said those arrested have been handed over to the DSS for further investigation.

The state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Roland Osakwe, said he was aware that some arrests had been made.

He, however, said he could not confirm their identity as they did not register their presence at the NUJ state secretariat.

Meanwhile, as part of the activities to check the reported security challenges, the Nigerian Army has promised to deploy drones during the governorship election.

Tribunal Grants Agbaje Leave To Inspect Governorship Election Materials

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The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday granted Mr Jimi Agbaje leave to inspect all polling materials and documents used in the April 11 governorship election in the state.

Agbaje was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the election in which the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) declared Mr Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress as the winner.

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 INEC to provide certified true copies of all polling documents, including printed data from the card reader machine, in each polling unit.

However, 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 petitions relating to the governorship election.

“The tribunal does not have the power to make an order for the inspection of the documents and devices used for the presidential election. It is hereby refused,” he added.

The tribunal also rejected Agbaje’s application, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, seeking an order to compel INEC to produce all polling documents, and card reader machines used for the governorship election.

According to the panel, the petitioner can request for materials and documents it deemed necessary to his case by way of subpoena when the tribunal has fully commenced proceedings.

The judge noted that the respondents should be given the statutory time to file their replies to the petitioner’s originating summons, adding that notices would be sent to parties for the pre-hearing conference.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agbaje had petitioned the tribunal over the election which he lost to Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Agbaje had alleged some irregularities during the election which he said contravened the provisions of INEC approved guidelines for the election.

The respondents in the suit are : INEC, Ambode, APC and the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State.

 Credit: vanguardngr