Reasons why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it has deleted the name of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State from the list of Senators elect after the February 23rd National Assembly Elections, have been known. Despite being announced winner, Okorocha won’t be available to receive INEC certificate of Return today (Thursday) in Abuja alongside other Senators elect.
The commission through the chairman Mahmood Yakubu cited that its move was necessary owing revelations by the Returning officer for Imo West Senatorial District, Prof Innocent Ibeabuchi who said he was held under duress to declare Okorocha as winner of the poll to save his life.
According to him, “I was compelled to announced the result which was inconclusive. I’m a man of integrity and it is not held hostage by agents working for him. I was man handled and I thank God I came back alive” he said.
The INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said the commission will not issue certificate of return to any candidate declared winner of an election under duress.
According to him, “I am confident that working together with the security agencies, we will consolidate on the largely peaceful conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections while also taking decisive steps to deal with the Minority of violator intent on disrupting the conduct of peaceful election”.
“However, the commission will not tolerate the act of holding our officials hostage and forcing them to declare winners under duress.
Where such occurs, the commission will not reward bad behaviour by issuing them certificates of return” he had said this during a meeting in Abuja.
It would be recalled that an official release from INEC saw Okorocha’s name omitted whereas a comment states that it was declared under duress.
