TIJJANI ABDULLAHI, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the ruling of the Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Owerri, Imo State of Nigeria delivered on the 20th day of September, 2007 wherein the Tribunal held thus:
"Petitioner is therefore required by paragraph 3(1) of the Practice Directions, 2007 to make his application within 21 days. He is expected to wait for the Respondents to file a reply he is expected to be vigilant and desirous for a quiet disposal of his petition. That is the spirit and intendment of the Practice Directions, 2007 and paragraph 3(1) in Particular."
The application by the Petitioner on 18/07/2007 is therefore made outside the period permitted by paragraph 3(1). Since the Tribunal by subparagraph 4 lacks the power to extend time for the Petitioner to make the application. It falls for us to dismiss the petition as abandoned in accordance with sub-paragraph 4. The petition is hereby dismissed."
…