By Boluwaji Obahopo

LOKOJA—The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State has granted Senator Smart Adeyemi leave to inspect and recount all election materials used in disputed areas during the March 28 National Assembly election in Kogi West Senatorial District of the state.

Sen. Adeyemi who was the Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the senatorial district had filed a petition at the tribunal through his lawyer, Mr. J.O. Olatoke, SAN. challenging the declaration of Mr. Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the poll.

Adeyemi’s counsel had requested in the petition that the tribunal should allow the examination and counting of the ballot papers used at the disputed polling units during the election at the trial to ascertain the lawful votes cast.

During the pre-trial, Olatoke had brought a motion on notice before the tribunal for an application to direct the 3rd respondent, that is the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to bring to the tribunal original ballot papers, ballot papers stubs and all the ballot boxes used and unused in the disputed areas during the election.