CHIEF LIYEL IMOKE V. AMB. AKPANG ADE ODU INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)

OMAGE JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal from the decision of the ruling/decision of the Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal, which helds in Calabar, and decided on 7 June 2007, before the panel presided by its Chairman, the Hon. Justice Amina Wambai, in the matter of the petition of Ambassador AkpangAde Odu, as the petitioner and Chief Liyel Imoke as the respondent. The rulingof the Tribunal was on the motion filed by the respondent to the petition in which the appellant sought before the panel, the following reliefs: (1) An order for leave to file a motion challengingthe jurisdiction of the Tribunal to hear and determine the petition of the petitioner. The respondent at this time had filed no respondent brief. The Tribunal informed the respondent/applicant that such an application canbe entertained at the pre-trial conference in compliance with the Practice Directions, 2007 in paragraphs 6(1) and 3(7)d. The Practice Directions was made by the P…