PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY V. SEN. DANIEL I. SAROR & ORS

REGINA OBIAGELI NWODO, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The decision of this court in respect of this appeal was pronounced on the 2nd of February 2012 and the reasons reserved to a later date. I hereunder set out my reasoning in support of the decision. The Governorship Elections in Benue State was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, on the 26th of April, 2011. The Appellant, Peoples Democratic Party sponsored the 3rd Respondent as its governorship candidate while the 2nd Respondent sponsored the 1st Respondent as candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples Party. The 4th Respondent at the conclusion of the general election returned the 3rd Respondent as the winner of the election on 27th April, 2011. The 1st and 2nd Respondents were not satisfied with the return of the 3rd Respondent, and preceded to the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Makurdi Benue State (hereinafter referred to as Tribunal) and filed a petition on 17 May, 2011 against the 3rd…