The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has granted the prayers of the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Segun Oni, to conduct physical inspection of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ballot papers used in the June 18 gubernatorial election in the state.

Oni is challenging the victory of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, before the tribunal headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, which had its inaugural sitting on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Also joined as respondents in the case are APC, the APC National Chairman, INEC, and the deputy governor-elect, Monisola Afuye.

Other members of the tribunal panel are Justice Sa’ad  Zadawa (Member 1) and Justice Jacob  Atsen (Member 2).

INEC had declared Oyebanji of the APC as the winner of the gubernatorial election.

Oyebanji polled 187,057 votes to defeat his two closest challengers – Oni of the SDP and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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SDP came second in the election with 82,211 votes, while PDP occupied the third position with 67,457 votes.

However, in an ex-parte motion filed, Oni sought the leave of the tribunal to serve the petition and other processes in the proceeding on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th respondents by substituted service through the national secretary or any other official at the party secretariat in Abuja.

The SDP candidate had also prayed the court to grant an order permitting him or his agents to conduct manual/physical inspection of all electoral materials used in the conduct of the governorship election in the 16 local government areas of the state on June 18.

In his ruling on the ex-parte motion, Justice Kpochi said the grounds were the pillars that support the applicant’s petitions to continue his petitions at the tribunal.

He said the tribunal found merit in the motion ex-parte and ordered INEC to give unhindered access to the petitioner to inspect the electoral materials which include BVAS, all ballot papers, and voters register, among others.

The Star