Okorocha Blows Hot, Dares INEC, Yakubu Over Certificate Of Return

The Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha has declared that the Independent National electoral commission (INEC) has no right whatsoever to withhold his certificate of return for Imo West Senatorial District after declaring the result.

Naija News understands that Okorocha made this known while expressing his displeasure over the fact that he is yet to receive his certificate of return from INEC since he won the election of the Imo West Senatorial District.

Okorocha made his displeasures known at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, May 8 where he gave an ultimatum to the electoral umpire mandating the body to issue the certificate before the June 2019 Inauguration of the Ninth Assembly.

Okorocha in the conference with newsmen maintained that INEC lacked the constitutional powers and prowess to withhold his certificate of return.

“What is important is, INEC doesn’t have the power to withhold the certificate of return having declared the result because both the certificate of return and the declaration is just one subject matter; just that the other one is a ceremony because results have been declared.

“Last week I wrote a letter to INEC officially for the first time myself, informing them about their wrongdoings and illegal actions taken to withhold my certificate on a mere allegation of duress, which was never founded, neither was there any committee set up to investigate the matter.

“INEC on their own, believe the report by their returning officer without investigating the authenticity of such allegation. So there was no issue of fair hearing at all to have asked me whether I actually committed the offence that their person alleged.”

Meanwhile, the Governor in his Press gathering also hopes to become the Senator representing the people of Imo West Senatorial District and went ahead to urge INEC to act beyond the allegation of duress and try to investigate the matter.

He expressed hopes in receiving his certificate within the shortest time possible before the inauguration of the ninth assembly.