UWANI MUSA ABBA AJI, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgement): On 18/3/2023 and 15/4/2023, the 1st Respondent (INEC) conducted the Governorship Election and supplementary election respectively, into the office of the Governor of Kebbi State. In the election, the 1st Appellant was sponsored by the 2nd Appellant, whilst the 2nd Respondent was sponsored by the 4th Respondent. The 3rd Respondent was the running mate of the 2nd Respondent. At the conclusion of the election, the 2nd Respondent was declared the winner, having scored the majority of lawful votes of 409,225 against the Appellants who scored 360,940; with the margin of lead being 48,285.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the said election, the Appellants filed a joint Petition against the Respondents on the 5/5/2023. At the hearing of the petition, the Appellants called 86 witnesses in proof of their petition. At the close of hearing, the trial Tribunal on 5/10/2023 delivered its Judgment dismissing the Petition for lacking in meri…