NSOFOR, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal from the decision, on the 26th of March 1999, of the Governorship/House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, Bayelsa State of Nigeria, (herein after to be referred to simply as the Tribunal for short) holden in Yenagoa.
On the 30th of January, 1999, elections were conducted into the Bayelsa State House of Assembly by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a statutory body charged with conducting elections throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria .
The appellant (petitioner) contested the Bayelsa State House of Assembly elections for the Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency II on the platform of All Peoples Party (APP). The 1st Respondent herein was also a candidate for the Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency II at the said elections. He contested on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The 3rd to the 7th Respondents herein, were some officials of the INEC, (the 2nd named Respondent herein) who participat…