Presidential polls: Appeal Court grants Atiku access to INEC electoral materials

A three-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, on Wednesday in Abuja, granted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, access to inspect all materials used in the presidential elections.

The decision was made after the panel heard the ex-parte motion filed by Atiku Abubakar, seeking an order granting them access to inspect the electoral materials used for the February 23 polls.

It would be recalled that Atiku had earlier demanded that materials used for the February 23 presidential election be inspected.

The Head of the panel, Justice Abdul Aboki, in delivering its ruling ordered INEC to allow the appellant access to all electoral materials, to enable him file and maintain an electoral petition.

However, the court refused prayers 3 to 5 which sort for scanning and forensic audit, stating that a forensic audit does not fall under the terms envisaged by section 151 of the Electoral Act.