Tribunal commences pre-trial hearing Thursday

The Election Petition Tribunal will commence pre-trial hearing in the case filed by Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu against Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) and two others in Benin on Thursday.

PDP and Ize-Iyamu are challenging the declaration of Mr Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner in the Sept. 28 Edo governorship election by INEC.

But APC and Obaseki have urged the tribunal to discountenance PDP’s petition and uphold their application which challenged the areas where PDP claimed victory.

The tribunal had on Oct. 11, ordered INEC to allow PDP have unhindered access to all electoral materials in the Sept. 28 governorship election in Edo.

The order followed an ex-parte motion filed by PDP’s counsel, Mr Kingsley Obamogie.

Obamogie had argued that the motion was in compliance with section 151 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended which he relied on and prayed the court to grant them the order to inspect the INEC materials.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice A. Badamasi, on Tuesday, fixed Thursday, Dec. 1 for the commencement of the pre-trial hearing in the petition.

The other two members of the tribunal are Justices E.A. Ade Sodun and Khadi Adamu Usman.