ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY V. PETER AYODELE FAYOSE JACOB ABIODUN ALUKO INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER OF EKITI STATE RETURNING OFFICER FOR EKITI STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

NSOFOR, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal from the decision by the Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal, (hereinafter to be called the Tribunal for short) for Ekiti State of Nigeria in the election petition No. EPT/EK/G/4/2003. Judgment in the petition was delivered on the 2nd day of March, 2004. On the 19th of April, 2003, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted in each of the thirty-six (36) federating States of Nigeria, and including the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T.) Abuja an election into the office of Governor for each State of the Federation. Alliance for Democracy, (hereinafter called A. D. for short), one of the registered political parties, participated in the election. It sponsored a candidate for the election to contest for the office of Governor of Ekiti State who is not a party to the proceedings. Similarly, Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P. for short) participated in the election. It sponsored Peter Ayodele Fa…