MAKURDI—The defeated All Progressives Congress, APC,
candidate during the Benue South Senatorial District
election, Mr. Daniel Onje has accused the Independent
National Electoral Commission, INEC, of allegedly denying
him the right to inspect the materials used in the conduct of
the election, thereby frustrating his petition against the
election of the Senate President, Senator David Mark..
Onje is challenging the re-election of Senator Mark at the
Legislative Houses Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in
Makurdi.
At the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, his
counsel, Adetunji Oso told the tribunal that, “we had
applied since April 14, 2015 for inspection of materials used
during the election, but regrettably, INEC has not given us
the desired cooperation.”
He sought the court’s order to compel the commission to
allow his client access to the materials.
In his response, counsel to INEC, Godwin Manswa,
complained that owing to the enormity of the materials
involved, it had been hectic to make them available to the
petitioner but promised that the commission would avail
the petitioner with the needed materials.
In her ruling, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Mosunmola
Dipeolu adjourned further hearing on the matter to June
12, 2015.
Meantime, the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Mr.
Gabriel Suswam has withdrawn his petition challenging the
election of Senator Barnabas Gemade.
Counsel to Suswam, Mr Andrew Wombo who sought the
withdrawal through an application told the court that, “my
client has decided to withdraw the case in the interest of
peace and harmony of the society.”
Wombo then prayed the tribunal to grant the request without
any costs

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