The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which ruled that Rochas Okorocha be awarded his certificate of return as the senator-elect.
“In view of the import and directives of the said judgment, the Commission will meet as soon as practicable to do the needful,” INEC national commissioner on information and voter education Festus Okoye said in a statement.
INEC refused to acknowledge Okorocha’s victory in February because the returning officer was made to announce the result under duress.
Recall that the Imo State High Court also heed to INEC’s decision not to issue Okorocha a certificate of return to acknowledge his victory as the Senator for Imo West Senatorial District.
On the contrary, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High court had ruled that INEC decision as it has no reason not to issue the Okorocha certificate of return.
However, INEC reminded the court that while it ruled that Okorocha’s certificate of return be issued to him, the hearing of the case is still on and adjourned till June 26at the state high court.
Okoye said 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 review of the election.
On the returning officer that announced the election result under ‘duress’, Okoye said, “the Commission… is worried that if electoral impunity is allowed to flourish, any individual can harass, intimidate and put the Commission’s officers under duress, procure a favorable declaration and be rewarded with a Certificate of Return.”
The INEC national commissioner commended the Abuja High Court and assured Nigerians that “the Commission will continue to obey judgments of all courts of competent jurisdiction.”