Buhari vs Atiku: Election Tribunal takes decision on President, APC’s request

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has granted President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), access to the materials used for the conduct of the 2019 election.

The Justice Abdu Aboki-led tribunal, gave the go-ahead on Thursday following the applications filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wole Olanipekun, and other prominent lawyers.

In their separate ex parte applications for the order of inspection, Buhari and the APC pleaded that they be given access to the materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in conducting the February 23 presidential poll.

They explained that this would enable them to defend themselves in any petition which the runner-up in the poll, Atiku Abubakar, and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), planned to file.

The tribunal said it found merit in the appeal and ordered INEC to give the plaintiffs access to the materials, for the purpose of inspection and to make photocopies of same.

It had granted a similar order to the PDP and Atiku on March 6.