MOHAMMED LAWAL GARBA, J.C.A (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellants and the 1st and 2nd Respondents had contested the election conducted by the 3rd Respondent on the 26-04-2011 for the Ikom One (1) State Constituency of Cross River State. At the end of polls, the 1st Respondent was declared and returned as the winner of the election and because the Appellants were dissatisfied with the return, they questioned the election by presenting the election petition No.EPT/CR/SA/15/2011 before the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting at Calabar (to be called the Tribunal hereafter). The Tribunal at the end of trial of the Appellants' petition dismissed it and it is against that decision that the Appellants brought the present appeal.
In line with the Tribunal and Court Practice Directions, 2011, learned Counsel for the parties filed their respective briefs of argument in support of their position in the appeal. The Appellants' brief was filed on the 12-12-2…