Wike asks tribunal to strike out APC motion to inspect poll materials

(Nigeria) Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Tuesday urged the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, to strike out some sections of a motion seeking biometric scanning of election materials.

Mr Akin Olujimi, SAN, counsel to the petitioner in the April 11 governorship election, Mr Dakuku Peterside, had on August 19 in his motion prayed the tribunal to scan the materials used for the election.

Olujimi had also sought, in the same motion an order of the tribunal to direct Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to bring all election documents in dispute from Port Harcourt to Abuja for inspection.

The tribunal had on August 19 adjourned to August 25 to rule on the motion seeking biometric scanning of the election materials by INEC experts.

It also adjourned to rule on another motion moved by INEC and Wike’s counsel challenging the competence of the petitioner’s replies to some of the motions earlier raised.

The tribunal chairman had on the same date dismissed the motion seeking transfer of the materials of the election in question to Abuja.

According to the chairman, the order of June 11 on the inspection of election material remained valid and that the order could not be varied.

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, Olujimi told the tribunal that he received a counter affidavit from the respondents on the motion seeking an order to scan the election materials.

He also told the tribunal that his response on point of law would be served to the respondents before the close of work today.

According to Olujimi, ``I also filed my response on Monday to the motion challenging the competence of the petitioner’s replies to some of the motions earlier raised by the respondents.’’

Olujimi also told the tribunal that he was ready to defend the response he filed on Monday and that the hearing of the response and the substantive motion should go on.

Meanwhile, counsel to Wike, Mr Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, INEC counsel, Mr Onyechi Ipeazu, SAN and counsel to PDP opposed hearing of the motion.

According to the trio, they need to study the response served on them on Monday by Olujimi.

Justice Muazu Pindiga adjourned until August 26, hearing in all responses to the motions in question.

He also adjourned ruling on the application by INEC forensic expert, on August 26, seeking to scan and crop election materials.