ABSTRACT
Election is a multi facet challenge in
Nigeria. Military incursions into political governance, tribalism corruption
and apathy have deepened the electoral challenges confronting the ration.
Today, there is no doubt that election petitions have become an intrinsic part
of our democratic settings and structure. This is because disputes and
grievances are bound to arise form the conduct of elections and such disputes must have to be resolved and determined
by competent judicial bodies in order to maintain Law and order in Nigeria
society. To achieve this, the constitution in its wisdom has created special
adjudicatory bodies, known as election petition tribunal to resolve these
disputes.
These include the National Assembly/Legislative House election
tribunal, governorship election tribunal and the
Court of Appeal with exclusive jurisdiction on matters pertaining the
presidential elections. In Nigeria in general, and Ebonyi State in particular, irregularities
arising from the conduct of election have always been challenged by the aggrieved
parties. By challenging these irregularities, the results of that particular
election may be upheld or reversed by the tribunal responsible to hear and
determine such petition. Therefore, since elections in Nigeria are rarely free
and fair this paper discusses an appraisal of election petition tribunal in
Nigeria using Ebonyi State as case study. In the course of this discussion references
will be made to the national Assembly/Legislative house election petition
tribunals where the case of PDPV ONWE among other will appraised. Also, to be
discussed is the case of UCHA V Elechi under the Governorship Election petition
tribunal in Ebonyi State among others. In writing this paper much reliance was
placed on the electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which is the principal law on
this area of law. Also, we relied heavily on the decisions of tribunals, Court
of Appeal and of course the supreme court on election issues in Nigeria in order to appreciate this
topic
CHAPERIZATION
PLIELIMINARY
PAGES
Title
page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table
of contents
Table
of cases
Table
of status
Abbreviations
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Research questions
1.4 Objectives of the study
1.5 Research Methodology
1.6 The significance of the study
1.7 The scope of the study
1.8 The limitations of the study
CHAPTER TWO
DEFINITION OF
TERMS, ORIGIN AND ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNALS IN NIGERIA
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Definition of terms
2.2.1 Election
2.2.3 Tribunals
2.3 Origin of Tribunals in Nigeria
2.4 Establishment of election petition
tribunal in Nigeria
CHAPTER THREE
JURISDICITION
AND PERFORMANCE OF ELECTION PETITION IN NIGERIA
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Establishment/ Constitutive Jurisdiction
3.3 Subject Matter Jurisdiction
3.4 Parties Jurisdiction
3.5 Performance of Election Petition tribunal
in Nigeria: emphasis
in Ebonyi State.
CHAPTER FOUR
APPRAISAL OF
ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL IN NIGERIA: EBONYI STATE AS CASE STUDY.
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The National Assembly/Legislative Home
Election Petition Tribunal
4.3 The Governorship election petition
Tribunal
4.4 The Local Government Election Petition
Tribunal
4.5 Comparison of Ebonyi State and Edo State
on Governorship Election Petition Tribunal
CHAPTER FIVE
Conclusion
5.1 Observations
5.2 Recommendations
5.3 Conclusion
Bibliography