RICHARD IDOWU AKANMODE ACTION CONGRESS (AC) V. MELAYE DANIEL DINO INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF NIGERIA (INEC) THE RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER THE PRESIDING OFFICER ST. PAUL SCHOOL KABBA THE PRESIDING OFFICER OLUDUN, NEAR OLUNDUN FURNITURE 1, KABBA THE PRESIDING OFFICER OLUNDUN FURNITURE NEAR OLUNDUN FURNITURE 2, KABBA THE PRESIDING OFFICER BESIDE CAC ODI- OLOWO KABBA THE PRESIDING OFFICER FGGC, KABBA THE PRESIDING OFFICER AREA COURT GRA KABBA & 100 OTHERS

AYOBODE O. LOKULO-SODIPE, J.C.A (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the Kogi State National Assembly/Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunal, delivered in PETITION NO. NAGLH/KG/40/2007 on 9th October, 2007. The Petition was dismissed by the trial Tribunal. The Petition was challenging the return of one Melaye Daniel Dino (1st Respondent) as the winner of the election conducted on 21st April, 2007 for the Ijumu/Kabba/ Bunu federal Constituency of the House of Representatives. The election in question was contested by the 1st Appellant, 1st Respondent and four others. The Appellants as petitioners jointly presented the Petition on 21st day of May, 2007. The 1st Appellant was the candidate of the Action Congress in the election while the 2nd Appellant was the political party that sponsored the 1st Appellant as its candidate for the said election. The Petition consisting of 37 paragraphs was accompanied with statements of wi…