Senator-elect leads protesters to INEC headquarters over certificate of return

Benjamin Uwajumogu, senator-elect of Imo north, led some protesters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters over the non-issuance of a certificate of return to him.

The electoral commission had set up a committee to look into allegations of misconduct in the senatorial election – after Uwajumogu had been declared winner.

That decision was challenged by Uwajumogu who contested under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

On July 5, a federal high court in Abuja ordered INEC to issue Uwajumogu a certificate of return.

However, the electoral commission has not complied with the order.

While speaking with journalists at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, the senator-elect wondered why a committee was set up after he had been declared winner of the poll.

Uwajumogu accused INEC of “using the excuse of the committee to deny” him the certificate.

“Some of them that have been given certificates did not have to go through any committee before they were given,” he said.

“Why is my own going through this process? Why is INEC using the excuse of the committee to deny us our certificate of return when a court has given an order?

“We are asking INEC to produce that certificate of return and they must produce it and we asking them to produce it to forestall a break down of law and order.”