INEC Lists Condition For Okorocha To Be Given Certificate Of Return

Governor Rochas Okorocha

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Friday declared that it would not give the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rochas Okorocha, his return certificate until a court of competent jurisdiction says otherwise. 

Disclosing this at a press conference in Abuja, INEC’s National Commissioner and chairman of information and voter education committee, Festus Okoye said since the case is in the court, the commission would not do anything but obey the verdict of the court. 

Recall that the governor of Imo state had boasted that nobody has the right to deny him his merited certificate of return and thus went to court. But for INEC, Okorocha was declared winner under duress as claimed by returning officer for Imo west senatorial election Francis Ibeawuchi.

In view of the above therefore, Festus opined that; “The position of the commission has not changed. The position of the commission is that we will not issue certificate of return to Governor Rochas Okorocha in relation to the senatorial election.

“Since the matter is already in court, the best thing to do is not to prejudge the matter that is in court, but to allow the judicial processes to run through.

“If at the end of the day, the court gives an order that we should give him his certificate of return, of course, the commission will obey the order. 

“If on the other hand, the court takes a different position and makes other consequential orders in relation to the conduct of the elections in Imo West, we will also comply with whatever order the court gives. “As of today, the matter is pending in court, the best thing to do is to wait for the outcome of the judicial process.”