SAMUEL CHUKWUDUMEBI OSEJI, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): Election into the office of the Governor of Abia State was conducted on the 11th and 25th April 2015 by the Independent National Electoral Commission. At the conclusion thereof, the Appellant herein (OKEZIE VICTOR IKPEAZU) was declared winner and returned as elected.
The 2nd Respondent herein All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) was one of the political parties which participated in the said election and the 2nd Respondent was its candidate.
Dissatisfied with the declaration and return of the Appellant as the winner of the Election, the 1st and 2nd Respondents filed a Petition dated 14th May, 2015. There are three Respondents to the said Petition. They are the Appellant, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 3rd Respondent herein and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is the 4th Respondent in this Appeal.
Each of the Respondents to the Petition filed a separate reply to the Petition wherein they jo…