Following the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by the Hon. Justice Okon Abang, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Rochas Okorocha as the Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District, the Commission has said that it will meet as soon as practicable to do the needful.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye said in a statement yesterday that the commission was aware of and had been served with the Order of a High Court of Imo State, presided over by Hon. Justice Njemanze, directing it not to issue a Certificate of Return to any of the candidates that contested the Imo West Senatorial District election.
Okoye disclosed that the order from the High Court of Imo State was issued on 23rd May, 2019 adding that the suit had been further adjourned to 26th June, 2019.
The National Commissioner who that the Commission was aware that the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja was 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, he however revealed that the Commission was currently undertaking state level reviews of the 2019 general elections and that all the National Commissioners were either in or heading to their States of supervision to coordinate activities relating to the said review.
According to him,” In view of the import and directives of the said judgement, the Commission will meet as soon as practicable to do the needful. As a law-abiding institution, the Commission will continue to obey judgements of all courts of competent jurisdiction.
“However, the Commission’s overriding consideration is the safety of its ad-hoc staff, Electoral Officers and Collation/Returning Officers and is 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”.
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