Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC were in court today (Friday) over non issuance of his Certificate of Return by the electoral commission.
The Governor had in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/296/2019 which he had filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, insisted that INEC lacked the statutory powers to withhold his Certificate of Return.
Okorocha insists that he was validly elected to represent Imo West in the Senate.
At the resumed proceeding on the matter in Abuja on Friday, Okorocha through his 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.
Four other parties who participated in Imo West Senatorial election joined the suit as interested parties though INEC was listed as the sole defendant.The applicants through their lawyers said they were opposed to the issuance of Certificate of Return to Okorocha.
The interested parties are Mr. Nwachukwu Clement of Labour Party, Precious Nwadike of United Progressive Party, UPP, Dr. Uche Ibeh of Labour Party and, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
Hon. Jones Onyeriri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Senator Osita Izunaso had earlier joined as interested parties in the matter.
All the parties that were added as 2nd to 7th Defendants in the matter and had notified the court that they would file preliminary objections to challenge the competence of Okorocha’s suit.
INEC Lawyer, Mrs. Wendy Kuku, had queried the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit which she argued raised post election issues.
The presiding judge, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo adjourned the matter till next Tuesday.
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