The outgoing governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has berated INEC over the organization’s refusal to present to him the certificate of return as an elected senator of the federal republic.
In his words, Governor Okorocha said “I wonder what they want to do with the certificate. If they don’t give it to me, who will they give it to? Maybe they will give it to Festus Okoye because he is from my Senatorial zone but what they are doing is presenting INEC as a lying organisation and that is dangerous for our democracy because, as it stands right now, the image of INEC is bastardised”.
Speaking in Abuja, the governor also described the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, as enemies of democracy.
Okorocha was reacting to the withholding of his Certificate of Return by INEC.
The outgoing governor had been declared winner of the 2019 senatorial election in Imo West but INEC withdrew his certificate.
The commission based its action on the complaint of Francis Ibeawuchi, the Returning Officer for the election who said he declared Okorocha under duress.
The governor said: “What it means is that tomorrow, somebody can withhold the certificate of anybody because you don’t like his face because you feel that he wants to politically challenge you in future.”
Okorocha declared that the evil he feared in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been haunting him since he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor said he remains a staunch member of APC despite efforts to “frustrate him out of the party”.
Again, he accused Oshiomhole and some other leaders of working with INEC to ensure he does not get his certificate as the “duly elected senator”.
“The evil I feared in the PDP has befallen me 10 times in the APC. Last week, I wrote a letter to INEC for the first time myself, informing INEC of their wrongdoings and illegal actions taken by INEC to withhold my certificate on mere allegations of duress which was never founded, neither was there any committee set up to investigate the matter.
“So, it is funny INEC believes the reports of their Returning Officer without investigating the authenticity of the investigation. So, there was no issue of fair hearing at all.
“What is important here is that INEC does not have the power to withhold the certificate of return having declared the result. I believe the INEC chairman is up to a game with the chairman of the APC who is being used to frustrate my coming to the senate and this is politically motivated.
“I’ve given enough time that INEC might correct itself and do the needful and issue me my certificate of return but to no avail.”
Okorocha alleged that Okoye is being used as the “hatchet man” against him.
“Many things have happened so far and these should be of concern to everyone”.
