Election Tribunals

285. (1) There shall be established for each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, one or more election tribunals to be known as the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunals which shall, to the exclusion of any Court or tribunal, have original jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions as to whether—

(a) Any person has been validly elected as a member of the National Assembly; or

(b) Any person has been validly elected as a member of the House of a Assembly of a State.

(2) (Deleted by section 29 (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (First Alteration) Act.

(3) The composition of the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunals, respectively shall be as set out in the Sixth Schedule to this Constitution.

(4) The quorum of an election tribunal established under this section shall be the Chairman and one other member.

(5) An election petition shall be filed within 21 days after the date of the declaration of result of the elections.

(6) An election tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition.

(7) An appeal from a decision of an election tribunal or court shall be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of the delivery of judgment of the tribunal.

(8) The Court in all appeals from election tribunal may adopt the practice of first giving its decision and reserving the reasons therefore to a later date.”