The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial flag bearer for Kwara Central in the March 28th polls, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq and his party have filed a petition before the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the state capital challenging the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Abdulrasaq and PDP as 1st and 2nd petitioners respectively in their petition with reference number: NAT/LEG/EPT/IL/2/2015 dated 13th April, 2015, alleged that the election of the APC flag bearer was invalid “by reason of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act”.

They further alleged that the election was characterized by abnormalities, manipulation and irregularities.

The petition filed through their counsel, Ambali Abdulkadir Mujahid, Esq. and made available to journalists in Ilorin, joined the APC, INEC and the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) as 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.

The petitioners, therefore, prayed the tribunal to declare the election of the 1st respondent void and declare the 1st petitioner as the winner of the polls.

Other reliefs sought by the petitioners through a motion ex-parte filed before the three-man tribunal headed by Hon. Justice J. J. Majebi include an order of the tribunal to inspect the electoral materials before the pre-hearing session.

They also urged the tribunal to grant leave to the petitioners, their counsel, or agents to inspect and make copies of all polling documents or packets relating or pertaining to the 28th March, 2015 Kwara central senatorial election comprises of Ilorin West, East, South and Asa local government areas of Kwara State.

“An order compelling the 3rd and 4th respondents to make available to the applicants or their counsel or agents Certified True Copies (CPC) of all such polling documents or packets in the prescribed form used and/or purportedly used for the 28th day of March, 2015 in Kwara central senatorial election.

“Leave and order of this tribunal permitting applicants’ forensic experts to inspect, by way of machine/electronic scanning, all ballot papers and other electoral materials which were used for the conduct of the senatorial election in Kwara central on March 28th, 2015″, they urged.

The motion also sought “Leave and order the tribunal permitting hand writing and forensic experts to conduct an inspection of Form EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and all other forms, ballot papers and material used and/or purportedly used for the conduct of the senatorial election in Kwara central.

“An order directing the 3rd and 4th respondents to confirm in writing the unavailability and the reason for the unavailability of any such electoral forms or other polling documents relating to or pertaining to the senatorial election for Kwara central in Kwara State which by law are in the custody of the 4th respondent directly or through the 4th respondent or any other agent of the 3rd respondent”.

The tribunal, however, granted all the reliefs sought by the petitioners in their motion ex-parte, while the tribunal is expected to begin its sitting today, Monday, 27th April, 2015.