MOHAMMED, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal from the decision of the Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal sitting at Katsina. Following a nationwide gubernatorial election which took place on the 14th December, 1991, the 1st respondent, who contested under the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC), was declared the winner, having scored a total of 290,615 votes. The appellant contested the election against the 1st respondent under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and scored a total of 277,999 votes.
Dissatisfied with the declaration that the 1st respondent is the winner, the appellant filed his petition before the Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal and relied on the following grounds:
1. The Petitioner, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar' Adua is a person who was a candidate at the above election and claims to have had a right to be returned or elected at the above election.
2. Your Petitioner states that…