CHIMA CENTUS NWEZE, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This Court heard and dismissed this appeal on January 27, 2016. It promised to proffer its reasons for doing so on Friday, February 5, 2016, that is, today. Its reasons are set out below.
The third respondent in this appeal, (Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for short), conducted election into the office of the Governor of Ebonyi State on April 11, 2015. The appellant in this appeal, Edward Nkwegu Okereke, was sponsored by the Labour Party.
On his part, the first respondent, Nweze David Umahi, was the candidate of the second respondent, Peoples Democratic Party (hereinafter, simply, referred to as "PDP").
At the end of the poll, the third respondent declared the said Nweze David Umahi (first respondent herein) as the winner and the duly returned candidate for the said election. The sad declaration was sequel to the third respondent's finding that he (the first respondent) scored the highest number of votes cast an…