INEC urges tribunal to strike out APC’s petition on Fayose

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti to strike out the petition filed by the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) against the results of the June 21 governorship election.

The electoral body made the submission in its reply to the petition.
INEC, which is the third respondent in the petition, averred in its preliminary objection that the APC has no right to seek the return of its candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is not part of the petition.
INEC’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), signed the 43 paragraphs reply.
The commission also denied all the allegations raised by the APC,  including  the alleged systematic rigging of the  poll  through electronic means.
It also submitted that the ballots were the same model used for

previous elections in Nigeria and they were not  used  to favour the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as alleged by the APC.
The electoral umpire dismissed the allegation of security clamp down on APC leaders, saying none of such reports was brought to its notice.
All the INEC electoral officers of local government councils where the results were being challenged were at the tribunal to sign their affidavit and written depositions before the tribunal’s secretary as provided by section 117 (4) of the Evidence Act.
Interestingly, only seven  out of the 16 local governments are listed as areas the petitioner is contesting its results.