OPENE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): In the chairmanship election in Okrika Local Government Area held on the 5th day of December, 1998, the first and the second appellants were the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Solidarity Movement (NSM) respectively while the first respondent was the candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP).
The said elections was conducted by the second and third respondents at the end of which the first respondent was returned as the winner having scored 33,346 votes to the 9,341 votes and 12,903 votes of the first and the 2nd appellants respectively.
The appellants were not satisfied with the result and the conduct of the said election and as result of that, they filed a petition challenging the return of the 1st respondent as the Chairman of Okrika Local Government. There was a full trial at the end of which the appellants' petition was dismissed by the Election Tribunal.
Dissatisfied with this decision, the appel…