AKPANUDOEDEHE & ORS.
V.
AKPABIO & ORS.
MARY UKAEGO PETER-ODILI, J.S.C. (Delivering the Lead Ruling): This appeal is in the main asking the court to depart from its decision in ANPP v. Goni (supra) and other decisions in its interpretation of section 285 (6) of the Constitution as amended. The 1st and 2nd respondents on one part and the 4th respondent each filed a Preliminary objection and had the arguments embedded in their Briefs of Arguments. The 3rd respondent did not file a preliminary objection, but aligned to the raising of those objections and anchoring on the arguments.
Chief Bayo Ojo SAN for the 1st and 2nd respondents submitted that the appellants are estopped from filing this appeal seeking that their petition be remitted back to the trial tribunal for hearing, the status of a petition after 180 days of the date of it being filed having been conclusively resolved against their interest in ANPP v. Goni (supra).
Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN for the 4th respondent contended that jurisdiction is a creation of statute and…