The inspection of ballot papers used by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the conduct of the September 28 2016 governorship elections in the state by the PDP, was aborted Wednesday afternoon at the Commission’s office in Benin City, the state capital.
Although it was scheduled to commence at 9am in the morning, and jointly carried out by representatives of both the PDP and the APC, indications were that the counsels to the APC objected on the grounds that they have filed a suit challenging the commencement of the process before the court.
The PDP had insisted on embarking on the inspection alone, based on its earlier agreement with the APC but it could not have its way as INEC officials insisted that they needed authorization from its headquarters at ABUJA before such a decision can be made.
Counsel to the PDP, Professor Edoba Omoregie who said he does not understand why INEC would renege on an agreement it moderated on the modalities for the inspection told newsmen that the fact that APC has filed a suit, which the court is yet to hear, cannot alter the process both parties agreed upon.
The inspection would have commenced 3-weeks after the PDP and 2-weeks after the APC were granted motions ex parte by the Justice A.T. Badamasi-led 3-member Edo Elections tribunal to inspect all the materials used by the INEC in the conduct of the elections.
Indications are that the process would have commenced following an agreement moderated by the commission, according to a letter signed by the INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr Oscar Lee Amaechi, dated November2 2016 with reference No. INEC/ED/ADM/476/111.
The letter, copies of which was made available on November 2 2016 to the chairmen/secretaries of the PDP and the APC and their counsels, detailed the modalities for the inspection.
In the letter, INEC said the commencement of the inspection , “is in compliance with the tribunal order on the commission and the agreement reached between the representatives of the petitioners and the respondents on modalities for the inspection of documents”.
The commission added that all parties including representatives of the petitioners (PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu) and the respondents( APC, Mr Godwin Obaseki) had earlier agreed that the inspection will be jointly carried out, and as such it will stick to this decision.
It said this was in , “in view of the time”, and the need for it to, “maintain transparency and neutrality” while adding that the inspections will commence 9am daily until finally disposed off”.
The Commission also said that, “where a party is not present by 9am, inspection will not stop, it must go on
