Okorocha: I’ve forgiven the INEC official who claimed I won under duress

Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo state, says he has forgiven Innocent Ibeabuchi, returning officer for the Imo west senatorial election. 

Ibeabuchi had said he announced the former governor winner of the senatorial seat under duress, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) subsequently delisted Okorocha as senator-elect, withholding his certificate of return.

But on Friday, a federal high court in Abuja, ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to Okorocha.

Reacting to this development, in a statement issued by Sam Onwuemeodo, his media aide,  the former governor said he would continue to play politics devoid of “rancour, malice and bitterness”.

Thanking the court, Okorocha said his victory at the court belong to the people of the senatorial district and Imo for their support and steadfastness.

Okon Abang, the presiding judge, had held that having been declared winner of the February 23 senatorial election in Imo west district, INEC has no reason not to issue him certificate of return.

The judge ruled that the decision to deprive Okorocha of the certificate falls outside the provisions of the law.

“Once the declaration is made under section 68(c) of the Electoral Act, INEC has become functus officio and INEC has no lawful authority to withhold the certificate of return for any reason whatsoever,” the judge had held.

Also thanking the judge, Okorocha described him as one of the exemplary ambassadors of the judiciary in Nigeria.