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Tag: Tribunal

  • INEC extends campaign deadline for political parties

    INEC extends campaign deadline for political parties

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended political parties’ campaigns for the Governorship and State Assembly elections from 9th March to midnight of Thursday 16th March, following the postponement of the elections.

    In a statement titled: “Rescheduling of Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Election” signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye, on Wednesday, INEC said the decision was in line with an earlier guideline for campaigns to end 24 hours before election day.

    It would be recalled that the Presidential Election Tribunal (EPT) had given an ex-parte order for some political parties to inspect materials used for the Presidential election, including the forensic inspection of over 176, 000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used during the election.

    But the Commission approached the Court to reconsider the order, arguing that the BVAS systems were to be deployed for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

    INEC told the Tribunal that the lack of a clearly defined timeframe for the inspection could disrupt its ability to conduct the outstanding elections.

    “Having been used for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 25th February 2023, it is necessary to reconfigure the BVAS for activation on the date of the Governorship and State Assembly elections,” INEC said.

    The Court, however, rejected INEC’s application to vary the opposition party’s access to election materials and ordered the Commission to allow the Applicants to inspect all the electoral materials and to carry out electronic scanning and/or make photocopies of Voter Registration and Ballot Papers used for the presidential election.

    INEC had assured it would backup the accreditation data contained in the BVAS systems and would make same available to all applicants.

    It further granted them leave to conduct a Digital Forensic Inspection of BVAS machines used for the election, adding that INEC should furnish them with the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the result of the inspection.

    “The Commission is not against litigants inspecting election materials…Political parties can apply for Certified True Copies of the backend data of the BVAS.

    “Also, the results on the BVAS will continue to be available on the IReV for interested parties to access,” Okoye assured.

  • Tribunal dismisses INEC’s request to vary orders in Atiku, Obi’s favour

    Tribunal dismisses INEC’s request to vary orders in Atiku, Obi’s favour

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday rejected the application by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to vary the orders it earlier granted to the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi respectively, to inspect election materials used during the presidential poll.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the court issued the restraining order in the ruling it gave on Friday granting permission to Atiku and Obi to inspect the sensitive materials used for the conduct of the February 25 election.

    Both Atiku and Obi obtained the order to challenge the outcome of the election which they alleged was marred by fraud and other irregularities.

    INEC on March 1 declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu, the winner of the election but the PDP and the LP candidates are contesting the outcome.

    They subsequently filed separate ex parte applications, praying to be granted access to inspect sensitive materials that INEC used for the conduct of the presidential poll.

    But INEC, in a motion on the notice filed on March 4, asked the court to vary the order restraining it from tampering with materials used for the election.

    The commission said it needed to reconfigure the BVAS for the next round of elections which would be held on Saturday.

    But the court, in its ruling on Wednesday, said the application was unnecessary because it never granted permission to Atiku, Obi and their parties to scientifically access and inspect INEC’s database, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices.

    The tribunal said the apprehension being expressed by INEC, which includes the possible revelation of the identities of voters and their voting choices, was unnecessary because no applicant was granted leave to access INEC’s database.

  • INEC gets court’s clearance to reconfigure BVAS

    INEC gets court’s clearance to reconfigure BVAS

    The Presidential Election Petition Court sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Wednesday, granted the request of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) it used for the presidential election.

    The court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, held that preventing
    the electoral umpire from reconfiguring the BVAS would adversely affect the forthcoming governorship and State Assembly elections.

    It dismissed objections that the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the request.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that INEC’s decision to approach the Court of Appeal in Abuja, for an order varying the permission the court had previously granted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to inspect materials used by the commission in the conduct of the February 25 presidential election.

    According to the commission, the request was predicated on the need to reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used in the presidential election before deploying them for the March 11 governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls.

    However, some IT experts who did not want their names in print opined that granting the order would allow the electoral body to tamper with the evidence and compromise the pending litigations on the controversial poll and further worsen the credibility of the entire process.

    The IT experts believe that INEC does not need to reconfigure the BVAS ahead of the gubernatorial and the states’ houses of assembly polls.

    INEC gets court's clearance to reconfigure BVAS

    The presidential candidates of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and LP, Peter Obi, had in their challenge of the outcome of the presidential election, recently, obtained the order of the court to inspect materials used in the conduct of the poll, including the BVAS.

    INEC had declared candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, winner of the presidential election, which was marred by technical challenges.

    The controversial poll has been rejected by the two leading opposition parties and had been criticised by international observers and civil society organisations.

    Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, was said to have polled a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival and presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku, who scored 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of LP, who polled 6,101,533 votes, in an election that INEC failed to ensure instantaneous transmission of results to its IReV at the conclusion of voting at polling units as originally planned for the 2023 general election.

    Both Tinubu and Atiku won 12 states each, while Obi won 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Court of Appeal presided by Justice Joseph Ikyegh had last Friday, while delivering ruling in two separate applications, permitted Atiku and Obi to inspect the said materials, which they intended to use in proving their allegations of non-compliance and rigging of the poll.

    INEC gets court's clearance to reconfigure BVAS

    The appellate court, ruling in an ex parte application, permitted Atiku and Obi to inspect, “All the electoral materials used in the conduct of the election for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on February 25, 2023.”

    The court also permitted Atiku and Obi to do electronic scanning and/or make photocopies of Voter’s Registration and ballot papers used in the presidential election.

    In addition, both Atiku and Obi were by the order permitted to, “Carryout digital forensic inspection of BVAS machines used for the conduct of the February 25” presidential election.

  • Tribunal judgement: I have faith in judiciary – Gov. Adeleke

    Tribunal judgement: I have faith in judiciary – Gov. Adeleke

    Gov. Ademola Adeleke, of Osun says he has faith, trust and confidence in the judiciary to right the wrong as chamber of justice and remedy.

    A statement by Mallam Rasheed Olawale, spokesperson to the governor, issued on Friday in Osogbo, said Adeleke made the remarks while receiving Unit-to Unit Ambassadors of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from Osun West Senatorial District.

    Adeleke, who noted that the judiciary plays an important role in strengthening democracy, said the various judicial interventions had helped to stabilise the nation.

    ” Democracy revolves around the wheel of justice. Justice dispensation is the realm of the judiciary.

    “All democrats must therefore have unshaken faith in the judiciary. I have that trust and confidence in the judiciary to right the wrong and deepen our democracy.

    “I am a beneficiary of judicial intervention. I cannot forget how the judiciary cleared me of forgery allegations.

    ” You can’t have a strong democracy unless we all hold the judiciary as the indispensable arbiter”, he said.

    On the tribunal judgement that nullified his victory at the last governorship election in the state, Adeleke said he would appeal the judgement, and expressed the optimism that his mandate would be revalidated.

    ” So we are going on appeal and we trust we are going to get justice. I urge all of us to be calm and go about our daily activities peacefully.

    “I understand how hard and emotional the judgement is to the people of Osun state, but we must vent our disagreement only through the judicial process.

    “That is why there is an appeal process. We have all the grounds to appeal and we are doing that.

    ” So continue your campaign unit to unit. We are running Osun state to deliver on the will and aspirations of the people.

    “By God and man, our mandate will be revalidated through the same judicial process”, he said.

    Recall that the election petition tribunal had nullified the election of Adeleke.

    The Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Tertsea Kume,  while reading the judgement, said the July 16, 2022 governorship election was not conducted in compliance with the electoral act.

  • Oyetola’s tribunal victory, triumph of light over forces of darkness – Tinubu

    Oyetola’s tribunal victory, triumph of light over forces of darkness – Tinubu

    APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu says the election tribunal judgment that upturned the election of Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the PDP in favour of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, is triumph of light over forces of darkness.

    Tinubu, in a congratulatory message to Oyetola through his spokesperson, Tunde Rahman on Friday, also said the victory of Oyetola was a reward for perseverance that was well deserved,

    The two-term governor of Lagos state also described the victory as a triumph of courage over forces that sought to arrest the progressive good governance the APC administration delivered to the people of Osun,  under the leadership of Oyetola.

    “I heartily rejoice with  Oyetola on his much deserved victory at the election tribunal today.

    “It is a  triumph of perseverance, courage, and justice over electoral fraud and democratic perversion.

    “The forces of darkness plotted to extinguish the able leadership and progressive good governance that improved the quality of life of our people under your leadership.

    “The tribunal delivered justice and restored the mandate freely given to you and our great party,” he said.

    The APC presidential candidate, expressed confidence that the good work Oyetola championed that was momentarily paused, would soon resume and Osun people would be happy again.

    “Together we can renew their hope of a shared prosperity.”

    A 3-man election tribunal, chaired by Justice Tertsea Kume on Friday, in Osogbo, ruled that Oyetola was the duly elected governor of Osun.

    Kume ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue Certificate of Return to Oyetola, while declaring as null and void, the results that produced Ademola Adeleke as governor.

  • APC, PDP, INEC differ on Osun Governorship Tribunal judgment

    APC, PDP, INEC differ on Osun Governorship Tribunal judgment

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State on Friday expressed divergent views on the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal judgment delivered on Friday.

    The tribunal had in its judgment declared former Gov. Gboyega Oyetola as the authentic winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.

    While the tribunal Chairman, Justice Tertsea Kume delivered the majority judgment which gave victory to Oyetola, another member of the three-man panel delivered a minority judgment.

    Addressing newsmen shortly after the judgment, Counsel to APC, Dr Abiodun Layonu, thanked the tribunal for restoring the victory of Oyetola as the winner of the governorship election.

    Layonu thanked Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN) and Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for leading Oyetola to victory at the tribunal.

    He said that the judges at the tribunal considered the option of declaring Oyetola as winner in a majority judgment.

    Also, Counsel to PDP, Mr Nathaniel Oke, told newsmen that the respondents were dissatisfied with the tribunal’s verdict.

    Oke said necessary legal step to challenge the judgment would be embarked upon by the respondents in order to get Adeleke’s mandate back.

    He said that the majority judgment might not be the position of the court, adding, however, that the respondents stood with the minority judgment which, he said, showed the true picture of what transpired at the election.

    “You will recall that it was only two people who gave judgment in respect of the July 16, 2022 election,” he said.

    Oke expressed optimism that Adeleke’s mandate would be retrieved at the appellate court.

    In his own reaction, Counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Paul Ananaba, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment.

    “The tribunal chairman delivered what is called majority judgment; the second member of the panel gave a dissenting judgment while the third thanked everybody at the tribunal.

    “These are the issues we will have to look into and get back to the commission. Anybody who listened to today’s judgment will know that only two people delivered the judgment and not three.

    Ananaba further stated that the Biomodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) was the primary source of what transpired on the day of the election.

    He said there was no way a report issued after the election would be the primary source of what transpired on the election upon which the results would be declared.

    Ananaba urged the people of the state to remain calm, assuring them that all the legal options would be explored to get Adeleke’s mandate back.

  • BREAKING: Tribunal sacks Adeleke as Osun governor

    BREAKING: Tribunal sacks Adeleke as Osun governor

    The Election Petition Tribunal chaired by Justice Tertsea Kume has sacked Osun Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    Tertsea said the July 16, 2022 governorship election did not comply with the Electoral Act.

    The majority judgement of two judges against one ordered that Certificate of Return should be withdrawn from Adeleke and issued to Adegboyega Oyetola.

    The Tribunal chairman said that there was indeed over-voting in six local government areas in the state.

  • Osun Governorship Election Tribunal set to deliver judgment

    Osun Governorship Election Tribunal set to deliver judgment

    The Osun Election Petition Tribunal has fixed Jan. 27 to deliver judgment in the petition challenging Gov. Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the July 16, 2022, governorship election.

    The former governor of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had challenged the victory of Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election.

    This is contained in a notice of hearing dated Jan. 24, which was signed by the Secretary of the Tribunal, Mr David Mike, obtained by newsmen in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    The hearing notice said that the judgment would be delivered by 9am on Friday.

    Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Tertsea Kume, had on Jan. 14 reserved judgment for a later day to be communicated to parties in the matter.

    This was after the petitioner and respondents had adopted their final written addresses in Osogbo, the state capital.

    Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Aug. 5 filed a petition before the Tribunal in Osogbo challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas, alleging electoral malpractices, especially over-voting.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375, 027 polled by Oyetola.

  • Ekiti Deputy Gov, Afuye hails Gov Oyebanji’s tribunal victory

    Ekiti Deputy Gov, Afuye hails Gov Oyebanji’s tribunal victory

    Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, on Thursday hailed Gov. Biodun Oyebanji’s victory at the Election Petition Tribunal.

    The tribunal ruled in favour of Oyebanji on Thursday in a case instituted by Mr Segun Oni, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at the June 18 election.

    Responding to the verdict at Ado-Ekiti, Afuye commended the judiciary for preventing the will of the people from being subverted by the defeated opposition party.

    She told newsmen that “the victory at the tribunal amplified and firmly attested to the fact that Oyebanji won the June 18, 2022 governorship election fairly and squarely.

    She said with this resounding verdict, the judiciary, had again proven to be the bastion, fortress and great defender of democracy.

    Afuye insisted that Ekiti people gave Oyebanji their mandate freely, and that no force would be given the room to hijack the mandate.

    “As I salute the judiciary for mustering the vigour and acting valiantly to deliver a resounding judgment on the issue emanating from the conduct of the Ekiti governorship poll.

    “Let me call on the opposition to join hands with Gov. Oyebanji to take Ekiti to the deserved destination of prosperity, progress and development.

    “Ekiti belongs to all of us; let us join hands with the government of the day to make Ekiti better and greater,’’ she said.

    The deputy governor also commended opposition for heading to court rather than causing chaos.

    “We also appreciate and commend the opposition for not resorting to anarchy in seeking redress in the electoral matter. Resorting to court remains the best practice in democracy to seek redress on any contentious issue.

    “Now that the matter had been resolved, they should contribute their quota in building Ekiti of our dream.

    “I salute our party members, leaders across the state and Nigeria and all Ekiti people for standing by the governor. We are assuring you that we will not let you down.

    “Gov. Oyebanji and his team will revive the pedal of development by being diligent, transparent and zealously committed to good governance,’’ Afuye said.

  • Oni loses, Ekiti Tribunal upholds Oyebanji’s election

    Oni loses, Ekiti Tribunal upholds Oyebanji’s election

    The Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and his deputy, Mrs. Monisade Afuye.

    The Tribunal in its judgment on Thursday in Ado -Ekiti dismissed the petition of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Segun Oni.

    In the judgment read by the Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, and a member of the Panel, Justice Sa’ad Zadawa, resolved all issues in contention against Oni and his party, SDP.

    The Panel held that the petition filed by Oni against the return of Oyebanji and Afuye respectively “failed woefully head or tail.”

    Details to follow…