The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it will meet and do the needful, following the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja on the issuance of Certificate of Return to Rochas Okorocha.
Justice Okon Abang ordered INEC, to immediately issue the certificate to the immediate-past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, as the Senator-Elect for the Imo West Senatorial District.
RELATED: Court Orders INEC To Issue Certificate Of Return To Okorocha
According to a statement by INECs National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the electoral umpire had been served with an order of a High Court of Imo State, directing the Commission not to issue a Certificate of Return to any of the candidates that contested the Imo West Senatorial District election.
However, the statement stressed that the judgment of the Federal High Court is the latest, but the Commission is currently undertaking State level reviews of the 2019 general elections and all the National Commissioners are either in or heading to their States of Supervision to coordinate activities.
See the statement below:
“INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
ON THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF RETURN FOR IMO WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT
The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by the Hon. Justice Okon Abang, directing the Commission to issue a Certificate of Return to Rochas Okorocha as the Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District.
The Commission is also aware of and has been served with the Order of a High Court of Imo State, presided over by Hon. Justice Njemanze, directing the Commission not to issue a Certificate of Return to any of the candidates that contested the Imo West Senatorial District election. The Order from the High Court of Imo State was issued on 23rd May 2019 and the suit has been further adjourned to 26th June 2019.
The Commission is aware that the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja is the latest in time and determined the rights of the parties in relation to the subject matter of the Certificate of Return, in respect of the Imo West Senatorial Election.
The Commission is currently undertaking State level reviews of the 2019 general elections and all the National Commissioners are either in or heading to their States of Supervision to coordinate activities relating to the said review.
In view of the import and directives of the said judgement, the Commission will meet as soon as practicable to do the needful.
As a law-abiding institution, the Commission will continue to obey judgements of all courts of competent jurisdiction.
However, the Commissions overriding consideration is the safety of its ad-hoc staff, Electoral Officers and Collation/Returning Officers and is worried that if electoral impunity is allowed to flourish, any individual can harass, intimidate and put the Commissions officers under duress, procure a favourable declaration and be rewarded with a Certificate of Return.
Festus Okoye Esq.
National Commissioner & Chairman,
Information and Voter Education Committee
FRIDAY 7TH JUNE 2019.”
