Don’t issue Okorocha certificate of return, another court orders INEC

The travails of Rochas Okorocha, the Imo West senator-elect,  seems to have no end in sight.

The immediate past governor of Imo State was declared winner of the February 23 National Assembly election in his senatorial district but has not received his certificate of return.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refusing to issue him the document which will enable him join his colleagues at the red chamber said the declaration of the former governor was made under duress.

But a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja last week ordered that he been issued his certificate of return. The electoral body is yet to comply with that directive and this led to the senator-elect been denied accreditation to join his colleagues in electing their leaders on Tuesday.

The former governor might not be going to the upper legislative chamber soon as a high court sitting in Imo State has furthermore compounded his travails. He has always accused his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, as arrowheads against his political ambition.

The court ordered the electoral commission not to issue Okorocha the document that will enable him join his colleagues at the Senate.

According to TheCable, Ngozi Ukoha, the judge, restrained INEC from “departing from its decision not to issue a certificate of return in respect of Imo west senatorial district election.”

The judge reportedly gave the order while ruling on an application filed by Osita Izunaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliances (APGA),  pending the determination of the motion on notice challenging the victory of Okorocha who is of the All Progressives Congress (APC).