CHIEF JIM IFEANYICHUKWU NWOBODO V. CHIEF CHRISTIAN CHUKWUMA ONOH & ORS

BELLO, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): At the election to the office of Governor of Anambra State held on 13th August 1983, the returning officer (hereinafter referred to as the fifth respondent) returned Chief Onoh (hereinafter referred to as the first respondent) as having been duly elected. Dissatisfied with the result of the poll, Chief Nwobodo (hereinafter referred to as the petitioner), who was one of the unsuccessful candidates at the election, filed an election petition in the High Court of Anambra State against the five respondents namely the first respondent and the second, third and fourth respondents who were the Chief Federal Electoral Officer for Anambra State, the Federal Electoral Commission and the Resident Electoral Commissioner respectively and the fifth respondent-complaining that the first respondent was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes at the elect ion but that he, the petitioner, had the highest votes and had not less than one-quarter of al…