OLU ARIWOOLA, JSC (DELIVERING THE LEADING RULING): This appeal is against the judgment of the court of Appeal, Makurdi Judicial Division, (hereinafter called the court below), delivered on the 12th day of April, 2012 in an interlocutory appeal filed by the Appellants against the Ruling of the Benue state Governorship Election Tribunal, Holden at Makurdi, delivered on 13th February, 2012 in Petition No. GET/BN/02/2011.
The court below on the 19th September, 2011 had allowed the appeal filed by the present Respondents and struck out the petition of the Appellants before the Election Tribunal for improper commencement of pre-hearing session.
The Appellants appealed to this court and on the 14th November, 2011, this court in appeal No.SC.360/2011 allowed the appeal and ordered the petition to be heard on the merits. It is note worthy that this court in the appeal, confined itself to the sole issue of whether paragraph 47 (1) of the 1st schedule to the Electoral Act, 2010 was applicable to…