By Thompson Agu in Abuja
Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha in his quest to become a senator approached the court on Wednesday in Abuja.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/296/2019, and filed by Okorocha’s counsel, Kehinde Ogunwujumi, SAN argued that INEC lacked the statutory powers to withhold his Certificate of Return.
Okorocha through the lawyer insisted that he was validly elected to occupy the senatorial seat.
He, therefore, urged the court to declare that the electoral body acted in error when it refused to recognise him, even after the returning officer had declared him the winner.
In Mr Okoracha’s suit filed through his team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, INEC was cited as the sole defendant.
The judge, Taiwo Taiwo, has fixed April 5 to commence hearing on the matter,
The judge, Taiwo however granted the prayers of an application that was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate, Jones Onyeriri and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Osita Izunaso.
Messrs Onyeriri and Izunaso who were joined as interested parties in the matter and were subsequently listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
It would be recalled that reports of how Mr Okorocha was declared the winner of the Imo West senatorial election by the presiding officer, Francis Ibeawuchi claiming he was forced to make the declaration under duress had gone viral after the National Assembly elections.
The claims of the Returning Officer forced INEC to suspend issuance of Certificate of Return to Okorocha on the premise that it is studying the situation
