The Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which was convening in Lokoja, has been put on indefinite hold till the Social Democratic Party finishes inspecting the election materials.
During the reopened hearing on Wednesday, the SDP stated that while the INEC was complying with the materials inspection mandated by the tribunal’s ruling, they were requesting an extension of time.
The panel had mandated that INEC provide the SDP with verified copies of the electoral materials for the state’s off-cycle poll on November 11 within 48 hours.
It further mandated that INEC permit the SDP’s forensic specialists to review certain election-related materials.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and result sheets for the local government areas of Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi, and Bassa are among the documents.
The Lokoja tribunal decided on Saturday that the SDP had asked for the materials to support its challenge against the All Progressives Congress’ election triumph.
The ruling was made in response to two ex-parte motions submitted on November 19 by the SDP and its governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka, by tribunal chairman Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu.
Justice Birnin-Kudu adjourned the resumed hearing pending when the inspection of materials would have been completed.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr John Adele (SAN), had earlier told the court that efforts to obtain certified copies of materials used in the six local government areas from INEC had been fruitful, except for some hitch, leading to delay in meeting with the 48
At the electoral petitions tribunal, the SDP and Muritala Yakubu are contesting the APC’s and its candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo,’s victory.
Yakubu-Ajaka received 259,052 votes, narrowly losing to Usman Ododo, who received 446,237 votes.