FABIYI, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Petitioner/Respondent and the 1st Respondent/Appellant herein both belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP for short). At the onset, the Petitioner/Respondent took part in the PDP primaries for the Anambra North Senatorial seat. In order to facilitate the chance of Dr Chuba Okadigbo, he was prevailed upon to contest for the House of Representatives seal for Anambra East/West constituency.
He went to the 2nd Respondent/Respondent - (INEC for short) for screening which was refused. He resorted to the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over byN. Auta - J. which gave a mandatory ex-parte order compelling INEC to accept him as a candidate on 18-2-99. He maintained that he was screened on 19-2-99.
He completed needed forms and paid the required fees on 20-2-99 - the day the election took place. But INEC declared the Appellant herein as duly elected and returned.
The Petitioner/Respondent then petitioned before the trial Tribunal whose c…