The Rivers Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Friday, dismissed an application by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to scan and crop materials used for 2015 governorship election in Rivers State.
The candidate of the APC in the April 11 governorship election, Mr Dakuku Peterside is seeking that the poll, won by Nyesom Wike according to INEC's pronouncement, be nullified on grounds of irregularities and fraudulent activities.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Muazu Pindiga, on June 11 granted the party leave to inspect the materials used in the election in order to prove the allegations.
However the APC later requested that the Court of Appeal, which will sit on Monday Aug 31, grant it powers to crop and scan the election materials.
Justice Pindiga,dismissed the fresh application, saying it was an abuse of the court process, since it had ruled on a similar application on June 11.
The APC alleged that INEC, the 1st respondent had denied it access to execute the June 11 order, which made a fresh application for scanning and cropping by forensic experts necessary.
"Although Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution provides for fair hearing of individual right," Pidinga said, "the motion for cropping, scanning of materials through forensic expert is hereby discountenanced and dismissed", while upholding the earlier ruling on inspection of election materials
The tribunal adjourned sitting to Sept. 3 for commencement of hearing.
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