An Abuja Division of the Federal
High Court has nullified the decision of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to refuse to present former Imo State governor, Rochas
Okorocha, with a certificate of return as senator-elect.
The Court ruled that the decision
to deprive Mr Okorocha of the certificate falls outside the provisions of the
law and was therefore a “lawless decision.”
According to the court presided
over by Justice Okon Abang, only the returning officer of the INEC had the
constitutional authority to declare a winner.
Mr Abang said any person declared
a winner by the returning officer remains a winner until petitioners succeed in
upturning the declaration at the election tribunal.
The court further ruled that Mr
Okorocha had no business being the originator of the petition at the election
tribunal.
Mr Abang, who ruled that the
federal high court had exclusive jurisdiction to decide on the matter,
described INEC’s decision as “lawless and a complete nullity.”
The electoral body had said it
refused to give Mr Okorocha certificate of return after the returning officer
for Imo West senatorial district said he was compelled to declare Mr Okorocha
winner.
Details later….
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