‎Tribunal grants PDP request to recount ballot papers used in Edo governorship election.

By Victor Osehobo, Benin City
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The PDP has scored a major point in the ongoing petition it filed against INEC, Mr Godwin Obaseki and the APC over the conduct of the September 28 2016 governorship election in Edo state.
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The tribunal presided over by Justice Ahmed Badamasi granted the application of the PDP through its counsel, Yusuf Ali, SAN for the ballot papers earlier admitted as exhibits by the tribunal to be recounted.
The tribunal also ordered that the recounting of ballot papers used in four local government areas, namely Akoko Edo, Egor, Etsako East and Etsako West, in the September 28 Governorship Election in Edo, be done in the open court.
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According to the INEC documents the total number of registered Voters in Akoko-Edo was 111,832 while the Votes Cast stood at 39,522. For Egor, the total number of registered voters are 183,135 the total Votes Cast is 49,274.
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The total number of registered voters in Etsako East Is 68,080, while the total Votes Cast is 29,434. In the same vein, Etsako West has a total of 140,366 registered voters while the total Votes Cast is 41,594.
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There was however a slight delay before the recounting commenced, as the Counsel to INEC Onyinye Alumonye told the court that the INEC staff who will represent the Commission in the process was not in court.
As at press time, the tribunal granted the prayer of Ali (SAN) for an increase in the number of representatives from all parties, who will be split into two groups, to speed up the entire process.
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Indications are that all the ballot papers for the polling units are being counted at the end of which the total counted for each local government will be recorded by all parties.‎