Okorocha Takes INEC To Court For Withholding His Certificate Of Return

Okorocha Takes INEC To Court For Withholding His Certificate Of Return

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorochas, has filed a suit against the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High
Court in Abuja, challenging the authority of the electoral commission
to withhold his certificate of return as the senator-elect for Imo West
senatorial district.

INEC refused to issue him the certificate of return after the
Returning Officer for the February 23rd election, Professor Francis
Ibeawuchi, said he announced Okorocha as the winner of the senatorial
election “under duress”.

The suit was filed by his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), Okorocha
made the plaintiff made INEC the sole defendant in the suit.

However, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, the presiding judge, by the agreement
of the counsels involved in the case, made an order permitting Jones
Onyeriri, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election
and Senator Osita Izunaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to be
joined as the 2nd and 3rd defendants. Both candidates of the other
parties were represented by their lawyers: Nwafor Orizu for Izunaso,
Emeka Etiaba (SAN) for Onyeriri. INEC was represented by Mrs. Wendy
Kuku.

Justice Taiwo ordered the defendants to file and exchange their
processes within 10 days, while the plaintiff’s counsel was given three
days to respond to them.

The case was adjourned till April 5.