INEC reacts to order to issue Certificate of Return to Okorocha

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reacted to a Federal High Court order asking it to issue a certificate of return to Rochas Okorocha.

The judgement was delivered today in Abuja asking INEC to issue Okorocha the certificate of return as the winner of the election for Imo west senatorial district.

Despite an order by a High Court in Imo ordering INEC not to issue the certificate of return to Okorocha, the electoral body says

“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.

“As a law-abiding institution, the Commission will continue to obey judgements of all courts of competent jurisdiction.”

According to a statement signed by Festus Okoye, INEC director of voters education and publicity, the electoral body said it was worried that:

“if electoral impunity is allowed to flourish, any individual can harass, intimidate and put the Commission’s officers under duress, procure a favourable declaration and be rewarded with a Certificate of Return.”