The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated the only condition under which it will issue a certificate of return to the Governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha whose tenure will expire by May 29th.
The commission made this known at a press conference in Abuja by the National commissioner in charge of information and voter education, Festus Okoye. He said the commission will issue a certificate of return to Okorocha if directed by the court to do so.
The returning officer for Imo west senatorial election, Francis Ibeawuchi had announced Okorocha as winner of the poll. But in a dramatic turnaround, he said he made the pronouncement under duress which led the commission to withhold the certificate of return.
The decision of INEC not to issue certificate of return to Okorocha prompted him to sue the commission. In a suit filed at a federal high court in Abuja, the governor asked the court to rule that INEC has no power to withhold his certificate of return and to grant an order mandating the commission to issue it to him.
When asked to comment on the matter, Okoye said “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 such a court 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.”
TheCable
