Senate : Okorocha’s Bid To Secure Order Against INEC Suffers Setback

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, had in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/296/2019, which he filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, maintained that INEC lacked the statutory powers to withhold his Certificate of Return, saying he was validly elected to occupy the senatorial seat.

He urged the court to declare that the electoral body acted in error when it refused to recognise him, even after the returning officer had declared him winner.

At the resumed proceeding on the matter on Friday, Okorocha, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, prayed the court to order INEC to in the interim, issue him Certificate of Return pending the determination of the suit. However, though INEC was cited as the sole defendant in the suit, however, four candidates that participated in the senatorial poll, approached the court to be joined as interested parties.

The applicants, through their respective lawyers, said they were vehemently opposed to the issuance of Certificate of Return to Okorocha. Those that secured leave of the court to file processes to counter Okorocha’s suit were Mr. Nwachukwu Clement of KOWA party, Precious Nwadike of United Progressive Party, UPP, Dr. Uche Ibeh of Labour Party, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.