SAHARANEWS – The election petition tribunal sitting in Kano has denied application filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to obtain forensic evidence and Scan copies of electoral materials.
In her ruling on Tuesday, Justice Halima Shamaki ruled that, premising on section 151 sub-section 5 of the electoral Act, the court is not allowed to authorize forensic and Scanned copies of materials used during the March 9th and 23rd gubernatorial re-reun election in Kano.
Justice Shamaki however granted the PDP permission to access photo copies of the needed election materials in line with section 151(5) of the Electoral Act.
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She urged all parties involved to deliberate and draw out schedules on modality and time limit for the inspection.
Counsel to PDP Maliki Kuliya-Umar on Monday filed a motion on notice demanding the court to grant more time to access, obtain forensic and scan copies of electoral materials.
But the led counsel to All Progressive Congress (APC) Aliyu Umar SAN insisted the tribunal lacks the power to grant PDP’s application.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also opposed PDP’s application noting that accessing photocopies of electoral materials is in the public domain and could be obtain with or without court process.
PDP had obtained orders from the tribunal to access the materials with all parties to observe the process. But the opposition party is demanding extension of the orders after exhausting 20 days.
It could be recalled that the Tribunal on April 9th, 2019 had granted PDP an exparte order to inspect all the electoral materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC of which they had access to only 15 local government areas in Kano out of 44.