Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has asked a Federal High Court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to present him a certificate of return as Senator-elect of Imo West
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/296/2019, Mr Okorocha argued that INEC lacked the statutory powers to withhold his Certificate of Return.
He insists that he was validly elected to occupy the senatorial seat.
He, therefore, urged the court to declare that the electoral body acted in error when it refused to recognise him, even after the returning officer had declared him the winner.
In Mr Okoracha’s suit filed through his team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, INEC was cited as the sole defendant.
The judge, Taiwo Taiwo, has fixed April 5 to commence hearing on the matter.
Mr Taiwo granted the prayers of an application that was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate, Jones Onyeriri and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Osita Izunaso.
Messrs Onyeriri and Izunaso who were joined as interested parties in the matter and were subsequently listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively
