Tribunal strikes out Accord Party candidate’s application

By CHUKWUJEKWU ILOZUE, Awka

The Anambra Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka on Thursday struck out the petition filed by the candidate of Accord Party, Dr. Godwin Maduka.

It, however, granted the application of All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate Senator Andy Uba and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Professor Charles Soludo’s prayers to inspect the materials used for the conduct of the November 6 and 9th governorship election.

At the brief sitting of the tribunal on Thursday, Maduka through his counsel, N.D. Agu applied to withdraw the petition.

In his motion of notice to strike out his petition Maduka said he wanted his petition struck out for loss of interest.

He also said that he has not served any of the respondents in the suit and prayed the tribunal to strike out the petition since he is no longer interested in continuing with it.

Ruling on the motion, the chairman of the tribunal Justice D. Mohammed said that since the applicant has withdrawn his petition, the tribunal has no option but to strike out.

“The application is hereby struck out” Justice Mohammed ruled.

However, the motion exparte of Uba and Soludo for the tribunal to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow them to have access to inspect the materials used in the conduct of November 6th and 9th governorship election in Anambra were granted.

Uba in his motion exparte filed by his lawyer Emeka Okafor prayed for the tribunal to compel INEC to allow him to inspect all the materials used in the conduct of the election including the Certified True Copies (CTC) of results.

He supported his prayer with 15 paragraph affidavit and a written address.

Also, Soludo through his counsel A. Ezeokenwa supported his motion exparte with 18 paragraph affidavit and written address and prayed the tribunal to allow him to inspect all materials used in the conduct of the election including access to CTC of the election results.

Ruling on the Uba’s petition separately, Justice Mohammed said that the tribunal had considered the application and satisfied is hereby ordering INEC to allow him to inspect the materials used in the conduct of the election.

According to her, the inspection must be carried out in the presence of the applicant, respondents Police and Department of State Service DSS.

Justice Mohammed also granted Soludo’s motion exparte to inspect all the materials used in the conduct of the election.

She said that the tribunal having listened to the application is satisfied and urged the INEC to allow him access to inspect the materials of the election, including the CTC of the results.

The tribunal chairman also ordered that the inspection must be done in the presence of the applicant, respondents, Police and DSS. (Daily Independent)