Election Matters
Election petition and defence outcomes at the Tribunal, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court levels.
Election petition practice is time-compressed and technically demanding. The matters below represent outcomes in election petition proceedings — both as petitioner and respondent — across multiple electoral cycles and at all tribunal and appellate court levels. All parties are anonymised. Court levels and the nature of the grounds established are described to allow the quality of the outcomes to be assessed.
Court of Appeal (as Governorship Election Petition Court)
Governorship election petition — substantial non-compliance
Petition upheld. Substantial non-compliance with Electoral Act established. Fresh election ordered.
Full petition concluded within statutory window
Election Tribunal
Senate election petition — vote recount
Recount ordered by tribunal. After recount, petitioner declared winner. Certificate of Return issued.
Tribunal proceedings: 6 weeks
Election Tribunal
State Assembly petition defence
All grounds of petition dismissed. Client retained seat. Costs awarded against petitioner.
Defence concluded at pre-hearing stage
Election Tribunal
House of Representatives petition — card reader evidence
Petition succeeded on primary violation grounds. Petitioner declared validly elected.
Determined within electoral window
Federal High Court
Pre-election matter — party primary dispute
Unlawful substitution of candidate set aside. Client's primary victory recognised. Name restored to ballot.
Interlocutory relief obtained within 72 hours
Election Tribunal
Election petition — lack of qualification
Petition on grounds of certificate forgery. Certificate established as false. Seat vacated.
Concluded within statutory timeframe