Tribunal grants Otti more time to inspect materials

All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA) candidate in the last governorship election in Abia State has been granted extension of time to inspect materials used in the election by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

Otti’s lead counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi, told the tribunal that the petitioner (Otti) could not carry out forensic inspection of the electoral materials as it earlier ordered because INEC allegedly failed “to cooperate.’’

Olujinmi therefore requested for an extension to give the petitioner enough time to inspect the electoral materials.

However, in his response, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Amaechi Nwaiwu (SAN), said that the commission was not served the order of the tribunal, adding that INEC was ready to cooperate with all the parties in the petition.

The tribunal had during its inaugural sitting on May 20, given Otti three days, including May 27, 28 and 30, within which to inspect the electoral materials.

In granting the extension, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Usman Bwala, ordered that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PDP and INEC, be served not later than Friday.

Bwala also ordered that the petitioners, including Otti and APGA, be served with the respondent’s replies.

He granted the petitioner 20 days within which to carry out the inspection of the electoral materials, beginning from Friday.

The matter was adjourned to Monday, June 15 for mention.