The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Kwara State has warned the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure compliance with the tribunal’s decision on inspection of electoral documents.

The Action Congress of Nigeria had said the PDP and INEC were frustrating its efforts to inspect and conduct forensic analysis of the electoral documents used in the April 26 governorship election in the state.

A copy of the order also known as Form 48, signed by the Secretary of the tribunal, Mrs. Uju Mesiobi-Emeto, on Monday and obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, ordered the PDP and INEC to comply with the order or be guilty of contempt of the tribunal, adding that they would subsequently be liable to be committed to prison.

The ACN had since obtained an order of the tribunal to be allowed to inspect the electoral documents and have a forensic expert to analyse the documents.

The PDP had also claimed that the order it got from the tribunal was superior to that of the ACN.

The PDP argued that it must be present when the ACN inspects and conducts a forensic analysis of the electoral documents while, according to the party, the ACN must not be present when the PDP is to inspect and conduct forensic analysis of the documents.

According to the order from the tribunal on Monday signed by Mesiobi-Emeto, the tribunal said, “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of the Honourable Governorship Tribunal/Court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

Also the state ACN Chairman, Mr. Kayode Olawepo, alleged that the PDP was colluding with INEC to continue to delay execution of the court order granted more than two weeks ago. He said the ACN lawyers who were said to have gone to Baruten on Monday to inspect, make copies and scan polling documents were denied access to the documents.

But the PDP has denied that it is frustrating the ACN from inspecting and conducting forensic anaylsis of the electoral documents.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, on Wednesday, the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Ishola Balogun-Fulani, said the ACN’s allegations were baseless and false.

According to him, the inspection process commenced at INEC office, Kosubosu in Baruten Local Government Area last Monday, contrary to the ACN’s allegation that the PDP was frustrating its efforts to inspect the materials.