THE governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the counsel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate to inspect and make copy of all electoral forms and documents relating to the April 26, gubernatorial election in the state.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Gumna Kashim Kaigama, gave the order yesterday at the maiden proceedings of the tribunal.
Kaigama said the applicants have 15 days to inspect, scan and make copies of any document of their interest, particularly about the six local councils they mentioned in their petition.
The affected local councils are Gusau, Bungudu, Maru, Ts afe, Gummi and Bakura.
The petitioner (PDP) is challenging the declaration of Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar as the duly elected governor of Zamfara State.
Respondents in the petition include INEC, state Resident Electoral Commissioner, six local councils electoral officers, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Yari, Deputy Governor Ibrahim Muhammad Wakkala, the Inspector General of Police and Zamfara State Commissioner of Police.
Counsel to the PDP, Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN), filed the application seeking for the order to inspect and make copies of the used and unused electoral materials for the governorship elections in the state.
But Counsel to the ANPP, Garba Gajam Muhammad, asked the court to allow them to be present when the inspection of all electoral documents would be carried out by counsel to the PDP. This leave was also granted by the court.
At the inauguration of the tribunal, Justice Gumna sought the cooperation of the counsels with a view to ensuring that the two petitions before the tribunal are disposed off in good time.
The tribunal members, however, complained over the inadequacy of the space provided as courtroom in the state.
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Zamfara tribunal grants PDP leave to copy guber polls materials