An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered INEC to issue certificate of return to Okorocha Rochas.
The court nullified the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refuse to present former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, with a certificate of return as senator-elect.
The decision to deprive Mr Okorocha of the certificate falls outside the provisions of the law and was therefore a “lawless decision,” the Court ruled.
According to the court presided over by Justice Okon Abang, only the returning officer of the INEC had the constitutional authority to declare a winner.
Justice Abang said any person declared a winner by the returning officer remains a winner until petitioners succeed in upturning the declaration at the election tribunal.
The court further ruled that Mr Okorocha had no business being the originator of the petition at the election tribunal.
INEC claimed they refused to give Mr Okorocha certificate of return after the returning officer for Imo West senatorial district said he was compelled to declare Mr Okorocha winner.
