NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The 3rd Respondent in this appeal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), conducted the Governorship Election for Benue State on the 11th April, 2015.
Appellant and the 1st Respondent contested in the said election and so did six other candidates who were sponsored by their respective political parties. Appellant was sponsored by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The 1st Respondent, in the words of the appellant, was "purportedly" sponsored by his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). The result of the election as declared by the electoral umpire, the INEC, showed that the 1st Respondent of the APC polled a total of 422,932 votes against the total of 313,878 votes polled by the appellant of the PDP. The 3rd Respondent declared the 1st Respondent winner of the election and returned him as the elected Governor of Benue State; the 1st Respondent having satisfied other condition for such decl…