Lawyers to the Labour Party (LP) flag bearer Peter Obi have intensified their scrutiny of materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conducting the February 25 presidential election as directed by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Even so, INEC has said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and backend report of over 11,000 pages is being finalized preparatory to allowing the probing lawyers also view them.
The commission, however, said the February 25 result sheets and ballot papers are in the various states, not at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
The LP’s lawyers, as well as their Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) counterparts, had met with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s lawyers in Abuja Tuesday.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had granted the requests by PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; LP’s Obi’s and that of the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC to inspect the election materials used during the presidential poll.
A report submitted on Tuesday to INEC by the three parties’ lawyers indicated that the LP’s team began the inspection on Monday.
Speaking on behalf of INEC’s lawyers, Tanimu Inuwa (SAN) said the commission has forms Ec8d (summary of results) of each State and FCT, Ec8da (national summary) and Ec8a.
He said the BVAS and backend report of over 11,000 pages was being finalized, adding that the result sheets and ballot papers were in the various states, not at the INEC headquarters.
He suggested that a timeline for visitation for all parties be made, for ease and the persons appointed to inspect be limited.