Bayelsa gov poll: Tribunal rules on Sylva's request April 11
Fri Apr 01, 2016 09:46:am Politics
5.1K By sosa hills
The Bayelsa State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja will on April 11, 2016 deliver ruling in an application filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva seeking an order of the Tribunal to allow him inspect the election materials used for the December 5, 2015 and January 9, 2016 governorship election held in the state.
Items listed by the petitioner are: the voters' register in all the polling units as well as the eight local government councils in the state; INEC result sheets; security reports on the election; video and audio recording of the elections and letters of complaints of irregularities and malpractices during the elections addressed to INEC.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Kazeem Alogba gave the date yesterday after taking arguments from parties in the petition challenging the election and declaration of Chief Seriake Dickson as Governor of Bayelsa.
In the motion on notice filed and argued by Mr Sabastine Hon (SAN) on behalf of the petitioner, Chief Timipre Sylva, an order of the Tribunal was sought to compel the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the petitioner inspect election materials used for the polls.
The petitioner's counsel stated that it was wrong of the second respondent to have claimed that the motion was vague because the document sought to be inspected by the petitioner are well pleaded in the petition and in line with section 151 of the Electoral Act 2010.
Responding, counsel to Governor Dickson who vehemently opposed the application on the grounds that it lacks merit, urged the tribunal to dismiss the motion.
Chief Timipre Sylva has asked the tribunal for "an order directing the Chairman of INEC and or the Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner to forthwith produce for inspection and or scanning and also to certify/cause to be certified, the documents named in the Schedule as Exhibit A' for the purpose of the petitioner/applicant assembling and leading further evidence which would assist them to maintain the election petition."
Items listed by the petitioner are: the voters' register in all the polling units as well as the eight local government councils in the state; INEC result sheets; security reports on the election; video and audio recording of the elections and letters of complaints of irregularities and malpractices during the elections addressed to INEC.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Kazeem Alogba gave the date yesterday after taking arguments from parties in the petition challenging the election and declaration of Chief Seriake Dickson as Governor of Bayelsa.
In the motion on notice filed and argued by Mr Sabastine Hon (SAN) on behalf of the petitioner, Chief Timipre Sylva, an order of the Tribunal was sought to compel the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the petitioner inspect election materials used for the polls.
The petitioner's counsel stated that it was wrong of the second respondent to have claimed that the motion was vague because the document sought to be inspected by the petitioner are well pleaded in the petition and in line with section 151 of the Electoral Act 2010.
Responding, counsel to Governor Dickson who vehemently opposed the application on the grounds that it lacks merit, urged the tribunal to dismiss the motion.
Chief Timipre Sylva has asked the tribunal for "an order directing the Chairman of INEC and or the Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner to forthwith produce for inspection and or scanning and also to certify/cause to be certified, the documents named in the Schedule as Exhibit A' for the purpose of the petitioner/applicant assembling and leading further evidence which would assist them to maintain the election petition."
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