*BY NED OKORO*
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned on the matter brought before it by Governor Rochas Okorocha who is challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to issue him his Certificate of Return as winner of Imo West Senatorial elections.
The Presiding Judge had directed the Plaintiff to amend the originating processes.
Okorocha had filed a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for failure to recognize him as winner of the Imo West Senatorial election.
INEC had refused Okorocha certificate of return on the grounds that he was declared winner under duress by the Commission’s Returning Officer, Innocent Ibeabuchi.
Okorocha asked the Court to compel INEC to give him his Certificate of Return having emerged winner of the election.
He further argued in the Suit which INEC is a sole defendant that he had been declared the authentic winner of the election and so, ought to be given a Certificate of Return.
He asked the court to rule that INEC has no power to withhold his Certificate of Return and to grant an order mandating the commission to issue it to him.
When the case came up on Wednesday, Jones Onyeriri and Osita Izunaso, candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the election respectively, were included as second and third defendants.
