By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has granted Dr. Alex Otti, governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in last April’s elections, extension of time to inspect electoral materials used for the poll.

Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Otti’s lead counsel, told the tribunal, yesterday, that the petitioner, Otti, could not carry out forensic inspection of the electoral materials as earlier ordered by the tribunal because of Independent National Electoral Commission’s alleged failure to cooperate.

Consequently, Olujinmi’s requested for an extension of time to enable the petitioner inspect the electoral materials was granted.

But INEC counsel, Mr. Amaechi Nwaiwu (SAN), explained that the Commission was not served the order of the tribunal.

According to him, INEC is ready to cooperate with all the parties in the petition.

The tribunal at its inaugural sitting on May 20, gave the APGA candidate three days, May 27, 28 and 30, within which to inspect the electoral materials.

Ruling on the application for extension, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Usman Bwala, ordered that all the parties in the matter, including Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PDP and INEC, be served latest today.

Bwala also ordered that the petitioners, including Otti and APGA, be served with the replies of the respondents and granted the petitioner 20 days within which to carry out the inspection of the electoral materials, beginning from today.

The matter was adjourned to Monday, June 15.