ITA G. MBABA, J.C.A.(Delivering the Leading Judgment):
This is an appeal against the Ruling of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, delivered on the 9th day of March 2016, wherein the Tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the Appellant, who was the petitioner, against the 3rd Respondent (INEC) on the ground that Appellant did not file application for pre-hearing session of the petition separately and independently before the final close of pleadings between the parties. The appeal is also against the decision of the said Tribunal on the main petition, delivered on 8th June, 2016, whereof Appellant, as petitioner, had challenged the return of the 1st Respondent (Yahaya Bello) as the winner of the election conducted by the 3rd Respondent on 21st November, 2015 and 5th December, 2015 to the office of the Governor of Kogi State, notwithstanding (according to Appellant) that he (1st Respondent) did not participate in all the elections and in all stages of the election…