Court fixes Wednesday to rule on INEC’s request to tamper with BVAS
The Appeal Court will, on Wednesday, deliver a ruling on the application by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking leave to configure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the governorship election.
INEC, in its motion dated March 4, asked the appellate court to vary the ex parte order made in favour of the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the inspection of materials used for the presidential election.
The appellate court had, on March 3, granted leave to Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party to inspect election materials used by INEC to conduct the February 25 presidential election.
The court granted permission following two separate ex parte applications filed by Messrs Atiku and Obi, who came second and third, respectively, in the presidential election won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The commission is asking the court to vary the order to allow it to reconfigure its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the March 11 governorship and state houses of assembly elections.
Counsel to INEC, Tanimu Inuwa, SAN, said the application became necessary following an order restraining it from tampering with the information embedded in the BVAS machines until the due inspection was conducted and certified.
He added that the commission would require sufficient time to reconfigure the BVAS needed to conduct the election that would take place on Saturday.
He told the court that INEC would “upload from the back-end”.
In his argument, counsel for Mr Obi, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, prayed the court not to grant INEC’s application for granting it would mean losing the original information there.
”All we are seeking is a physical inspection of the BVAS so that the evidence is obtained before it will be configured,” he told the court.
He, therefore, opposed the INEC’s application and urged the court not to grant it.
The three-member panel of the appellate court, after listening to their submissions, adjourned until Wednesday for a ruling.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Economy
FG, PSML sign $1.3 billion deal to revive Delta steel company
The federal government has signed a sub-lease agreement to restore and fully operationalise the Delta Steel Company, now Premium Steel and Mines Limited, Ovwian-Aladja, Delta.
Opinion
The peace treaty of the Thieves’ Guild
Nigeria does not need another ceremony in which politicians promise not to behave badly.
Showbiz
Atiku mourns Ogogo; Nollywood actor’s remains arrive hometown Ilaro
The body of Mr Hassan arrived in his hometown in Ilaro, Ogun, on Monday, ahead of his burial later in the day.
States
Air bombardment against terrorists in Sokoto intensifying, NAF says
The Nigerian Air Force has intensified its air operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the North-West.
Anti-Corruption
Politicians, voters warned against vote buying in 2027 elections
Vote buying is a punishable criminal offence in Nigeria, and the law criminalises offering and receiving funds for that purpose, a legal expert said.
Abuja
Ukraine embassy unveils exhibition on independence, culture
“None of these pieces can be taken away by force. The map carries deep symbolism amid Russia’s aggression,” Ukraine said.
