CHIEF KOKU GARIGA & ORS. V. BAYELSA STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION & ORS.

DATTIJO MUHAMMAD, J.C.A.: (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellants and the 2nd - 9th respondents are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the P.D.P, in Bayelsa State. The 8th and 9th respondents are the state secretary and chairman of the party respectively. The 7th respondent is the chairman of the Electoral panel set up by the party in the state to conduct its primaries for the Local Government Council Elections that took place on 3rd April, 2010. 1st respondent is the statutory body responsible for the conduct of the elections."

Interested in contesting the chairmanship seats of their respective Local Government Councils, Sagbama, Ekeremor, and Kolokuma Opokuma, on their party's platform, the appellants collected and filled the party's nomination and expression of interest forms. At the party's Local Government Area congresses held on 28th November 2009, the appellants were duly screened and declared the party's chairmanship candidates for the forthcoming Local Governm…