BASIL CHIANSON ALL NIGERIA PEOPLES PARTY (ANPP) V. PETER IGBA PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) IND EP END EN T N ATIO N AL ELEC TO RAL COMMISSION (INEC) IND EP END EN T N ATIO N AL ELEC TO RAL COM MISSION, BENUE STATE THE R ETU RN IN G O FF I CER, M AKU RD I SOUTH CONSTITUENCY THE ELEC TO RAL O FF I CER, M AKU RD I LOCAL GOVERNM ENT THE RETURNING OFFICER, WAILOM AYO COUNCIL WARD THE R ETU RN IN G O FF IC ER , M OD ER N MARKET COUNCIL WARD THE RETURNING OFFICER, BAR COUNCIL WARD THE RETURNING OFFICER, FIIDI COUNCIL WARD THE RETURNING OFFICER, ANKPAWADATA COUNCIL WARD THE P RES ID IN G OF F IC ER S, PO LLIN G STATIONS IN BAR COUNCIL WARD THE P RES ID IN G OF F IC ER S, PO LLIN G STATIONS IN FIIDI COUNCIL WARD THE P RES ID IN G OF F IC ER S, PO LLIN G STATIONS IN MODERN MARKET COUNCIL WARD THE P RES ID IN G OF F IC ER S, PO LLIN G STATIONS IN WAILOMAYO COUNCIL WARD THE P RES ID IN G OF F IC ER S, PO LLIN G S TATION S I N AN PA/WADATA CO UN CI L WARD

OGBUAGU, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the decision of the National Assembly/Governorship/ Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Makurdi, Benue State delivered on 11th July, 2003 striking out the petition of the petitioners/appellants on the grounds that necessary parties, were not joined in the petition; that the Electoral Act, 2002, does not permit the lumping or merger of electoral, returning and presiding officers as respondents in an election petition and that prayers i, ii, iii and the alternative prayer i therein, do not conform with the requirements of prayers in an election petition. Coram: Hon Justice W.

J. Afiah - Chairman, Hon Justice A. O. Lokulo - Sodipe, Hon. Justice M.

A. Pindiga, Hon. Justice S. B. Oyewole and Mrs. H. O. Ajayi - members. Dissatisfied with the said decision, the appellants, have appealed to this court on four (4) grounds of appeal. Without their particulars, they read as follows: GROUND 1 A The Natio…