JOSEPH TINE TUR, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Independent National Electoral Commission (3rd Respondent) conducted election into the House of Representatives for Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency, Cross River State on the 9th day of April, 2011. Mr William Ballantyne a legal Practitioner and candidate of the Action Congress and Hon. Essien Ekpenyong Ayi of the Peoples Democratic Party contested the election with other candidates. At the close of polls the candidates scored the following votes:
(a) William Ballantyne - 3,823 votes
(b) Essien Ekpenyong Ayi - 23,114 votes
(c) Edwin Orok Duke - 502 votes
(d) Edem Oyo-Itam - 660 votes
(e) Ako Isaac Eghiarrwa - 179 votes
(f) Salem David Joshua - 6,557 votes
The National Independent Electoral Commission declared and returned Hon. Essien Ekpenyong Ayi as duly elected to represent the three Local Government Areas that constitute the Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, the…