Orue Mary
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a Certificate of Return as Senator-elect for Imo West senatorial district.
In a suit before the court presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, Okorocha is challenging INEC’s refusal to issue him with the Certificate of Return in the February 23 National Assembly election.
Following the election, INEC refused to issue Okorocha with the certificate because of allegations that the Governor had ‘forcefully asked an INEC official who served as the Returning Officer for the February 23 election, Professor Francis Ibeawuchi, to declared him winner of his Senatorial district contest
In the suit filed by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), the plaintiff made INEC the sole defendant in the suit.
However, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, the presiding judge, in accordance with the agreement of the counsels involved in the case, issued an order permitting Jones Onyeriri, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election and Senator Osita Izunaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to be joined as the 2nd and 3rd defendants.
Both candidates of the other parties were represented by their lawyers: Nwafor Orizu for Izunaso, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) for Onyeriri and INEC was represented by Mrs. Wendy Kuku.
Justice Taiwo ordered the defendants to file and exchange their processes within 10 days, while the plaintiff’s counsel was given three days to respond to them.
The judge adjourned the case till April 5.
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