<p><strong>ALI ABUBAKAR B. GUMEL, J.C.A (Delivering the Leading Judgment):</strong> On the 20th October, 2012, a governorship election was organized and conducted by the 3rd Respondent (INEC) in Ondo State. Thirteen political parties sponsored candidates to contest the election. The 1st Appellant was the candidate of the 2nd Appellant (Peoples Democratic Party - PDP) while the 1st Respondent was the candidate of the 2nd Respondent (Labour Party - LP). At the end of the election and after the votes collation exercise, the 3rd Respondent declared the 1st Respondent as the winner of the election with 260, 199 votes. The 1st Appellant scored 155, 961 votes.</p><p> The Appellants were dissatisfied with the declaration of the result of the election and return of the 1st Respondent as the winner. They sought to challenge the result and return of the 1st Respondent in an Election Petition Number EPT/OD/GOV.04/2012 dated and filed on 10th November, 2012 before the Ondo State Governorship Election Tribunal, Akure. Upon b…</p>