Signs of a titanic legal battle over the Anambra governorship seat emerged yesterday when the Anambra State Governorship Election Tribunal presided over by Justice J.K. Kaigama granted the requests of both the litigant, Senator Chris Ngige, and Governor-elect, Chief Willie Obiano.

Ngige, of the All Progressive Congress (APC), is challenging the victory of Obiano, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The Senator, who came third during the election held on November 16, 17 and 30, had prayed the tribunal to direct the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to grant him access to all documents used for the conduct of the polls for inspection and copying.

Not leaving anything to chance, Obiano equally applied to the tribunal for a similar order. Both requests were granted by the tribunal, paving the way for what promises to be a grand legal battle.

The documents to which both parties have been granted access include the following:

(i) Voters’ register used in the conduct of the governorship election.

(ii) Forms EZ8A, EC8C, EC8D, and EC8E used in the conduct of the said election.

(iii) Forms EC17 (oath of neutrality) deposed to by the permanent and ad hoc staff involved in the conduct of the said election on the stipulated dates

(iv) Forms EC.25B (Election material Receipt) used in the conduct of the election.

(v) Forms EC40A, 40C, 40D, 40G used in the conduct of the election

(vi) The comprehensive list of all ad hoc staff engaged by the respondents for the conduct of the said election.

(vii) Payment vouchers for settlement of the allowances of the ad hoc staff engaged by the respondents, counter foils of the ballot paper booklets issued to the various polling units in the said election as well as actual ballot papers used and thumb-printed and counted ballot papers as valid used in the said governorship election.

In addition, Ngige is asking for the provision of the speech delivered by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, at the stakeholders’ meeting held at the women development centre, Awka, on November 13 and the nomination papers filed by APGA for its candidate in the governorship election.

News Express, which broke the story of Ngige’s suit on Tuesday (December 3), reports that Ngige scored 95,953 votes in the election as against 180,178 votes by Obiano and 97,700 votes by second-placed Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

•Photo shows Obiano and Ngige.

Update news