MUHAMMAD, J.C.A.: (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellant was the petitioner at the Sokoto State House of Assembly and Gubernatorial Election Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as "the tribunal"). He was nominated by Alhaji Muhammadu Modi Yabo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for Sokoto State as his (Yabo's) running mate i.e. as deputy governorship candidate. The 1st and 2nd respondents were the gubernatorial candidate and the deputy gubernatorial candidate sponsored by the All Peoples Party (APP). The election took place on 9th January, 1999 and the 1st respondent was duly returned as elected having polled 249,205 votes against Alhaji Muhammadu Modi Yobo's 182,655 votes.
The appellant was not satisfied with the declaration of the results of the election, he therefore filed a petition before the tribunal asking for the following reliefs:-
"1) That the 1st and 2nd respondents were not qualified to contest the election of 9th January, 1999 and that all…