The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), last Friday in a swift to the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja which directed it to issue a Certificate of Return to Chief Rochas Okorocha as Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District, had expressed reservations over the ruling.
In a statement signed by Festus Okoye, INEC Director of Voters Education and Publicity, the electoral body said it was 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.”
Okorocha.
The INEC’s expressed reservation over the new judgment has been described as justification for claims in certain corners that the body which should be an umpire in an election involving different political parties, is more pleased to act when ruling favours the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rather than when it favours the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It will be recalled the Nigerian Army’s accusation of the INEC as presenting itself like colluding with the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, for his party, PDP, to win during the unprecedented violent electoral process in the state.
INEC had also been fingered as set out to turn the table of Nigeria’s electoral victories against the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC which, many had said, came to bare in the exposed yet to be denied and where any was denied not concretely denied allegations of bribery of state Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), other INEC officials and huge vote-buying alleged to have been ostensibly orchestrated by opposition PDP’s presidential candidate and other politicians of the party.
On the latest court’s order instructing it to issue Certificate of Return Okorocha, the commission, however, said it would meet to “do the needful” over the court judgement 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.”
INEC had refused to issue the certificate to Okorocha who was declared winner of the poll, after the returning officer reported that he declared the former Imo Governor winner under duress.
It said while the order from the High Court of Imo was issued on May 23, “the judgement 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.
“As a law-abiding institution, the Commission will continue to obey judgements of all courts of competent jurisdiction.”
