Give Okorocha his certificate of return – Court orders INEC

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, his certificate of return.

Mr Okorocha who ran Imo West senatorial election was declared winner of the race but the electoral body refused issuing him his certificate of return.

INEC said the refusal to issue the senator-elect the document is because the declaration that produced him as winner of the February 23 exercise was done in duress.

But ruling on the issue on Friday, the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, frowned at the decision of INEC.

Mr Abang who ordered the immediate issuance of certificate to the former governor said the action of the electoral body was “lawless.”

The judge said any person declared a winner by the returning officer remains a winner until petitioners succeed in upturning the declaration at the election tribunal.