INEC Reacts To Court Order On Okorocha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the judgment of the federal high court, Abuja, directing it to issue a certificate of return to Rochas Okorocha as senator-elect for Imo west senatorial district.

A  statement issued by INEC on Friday,  said it 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 favorable declaration and be rewarded with a Certificate of Return.”

The statement was signed by INEC director of voters education and publicity, Festus Okoye.

It said it would meet to “do the needful” over the court judgment as well as another one from a high court in Imo state directing it “not to issue a certificate of return to any of the candidates that contested the Imo west senatorial district election.”

The statement said while the order from the high court of Imo was issued on May 23, “the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja is 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.”

According to the statement “As a law-abiding institution, the Commission will continue to obey judgments of all courts of competent jurisdiction.’’