Imo Election: Okorocha Drags INEC To Court Over Certificate Of Return

Okorocha Heads To Court Over Election Result

The outgoing Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission before the court over the failure of the electoral umpire to issue him a certificate of return as an elected Senator.

Okorocha has asked the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to grant an order compelling INEC to issue him with a Certificate of Return as the Senator- elect for Imo West senatorial district.

Naija News recalls Okorocha was declared the winner of the February 23 Imo West senatorial election, but INEC has refused to give him a certificate of return on the basis that the results were declared under duress.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Francis Ibeawuchi, said he was forced to declare Okorocha as the winner to save his life.

But in a bid to claim his mandate, Okorocha in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/296/2019, filed by his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), is asking the court to compel INEC to issue him a certificate of return, as the validly elected senator for Imo West senatorial district.

He contended that having declared him the winner of the election, INEC has no power to withhold his certificate of return.

The matter was then adjourned to April 5 by 2:00p.m for hearing.