INEC meets to decide on petition filed by Okorocha over release of Certificate of Return

A decision on the latest petition filed by the outgoing governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha urging the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to release his certificate of return without delay, will be taken next week, the electoral body says.

INEC commissioner for information and voter education, Festus Okoye, while reacting to Okorocha’s latest petition in Abuja, on Thursday,, stated that though both parties were in court over the issue, the commission’s chairman would meet with commissioners next week to deliberate on the issue and decide on the next line of action.

He said; “INEC chairman will meet next week with Commissioners to deliberate on the latest letter written by Okorocha and take a look at the issue again. Both parties are in court, but the INEC chairman is outside the country and most of the commissioners are on duty.”

READ ALSO: SENATORIAL SEAT: Okorocha storms Abuja court in pursuit of Certificate of Return

Okoye also added that the electoral body was not concerned about comments attributed to the governor on the issue, stressing that it would, however, not take any action that is outside the law.

“The case is in court but we believe what we are doing is in accordance with the law,” Okoye added.

INEC had refused to issue a certificate of return to Okorocha as Senator representing Imo West after the Returning Officer for the election, said the declaration of Okorocha as winner of the election was made under duress.

Okorocha however argued that if there were issues with the election after the announcement of a winner, recourse ought to be made to election tribunals.

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