TheCable

The court of appeal has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to access all electoral materials in the presidential elections.

A three-man panel of the court gave the order based on an ex-parte motion filed by the PDP and Atiku seeking an order granting them access to inspect the electoral materials used for the February 23 polls.

Atiku and his party had prayed for an order compelling INEC to allow them to inspect the register and other vital documents used in the conduct of the election unhindered.

In delivering its ruling, the panel ordered INEC to allow the appellant access to all electoral material to enable the applicant file and maintain an electoral petition.

However, the court refused prayers which sought scanning and forensic audit, saying a forensic audit does not fall under the terms envisaged by section 151 of the electoral act.

The panel agreed unanimously to the ruling, hence, the motion was granted in part.

Abdul Aboki, Peter Ige and Emmanuel Agim were the members of the panel.