By Onyekachi Eze
One of the compulsory procedures of electing fresh officers into different positions is the issuance of Certificate of Return, COR by the Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The Nation on February 25, 2023 stood still with the election of President and National Assembly members for next four years.
While that had been concluded with some contestants threatening legal battle against INEC over a suspected foul play in the election misconduct and associated announcement of results, the electoral body has set out today Tuesday and tomorrow Wednesday for the issuance of the COR.
Aside the newly declared President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima who had already received the COR a day after their declaration, no other elected person has.
However, from Imo State, the Senators-Elect, Osita Bonaventure Izunaso for Imo West (Orlu Zone), Ezenwa Onyewuchi for Imo East (Owerri Zone), and Patrick Ndubueze for Imo North (Okigwe Zone) would be joining their counterparts across the federation to receive their Certificate of Return from INEC today or tomorrow.
According to information obtained from INEC, this will take place at the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Also on the queue from Imo State are House of Representatives members-elect.
They are Honourables; Miriam Onuoha (Onuimo/Isiala Mbano/Okigwe), Canice Moore Nwachukwu Omeogo (Orlu/Orsu/Oru East), Eugene Dibiagwu (Oguta/Ohaji-Egbema/Oru West), Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Ideato North and South).
On the list for the COR include Honourables; Tochukwu Okere (Owerri Reps), and Matthew Nwogu (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor-Okpala).
The remaining two Reps seats yet to be concluded are Mbaitoli/Ikeduru, and Nkwerre/Isu/Njaba/ Nwangele.
These two Federal Constituencies were declared inconclusive by INEC and re-run bided to take place on the 11th March.
While INEC present the winners of the February 25. 2023 election with the COR, the aggrieved persons, this Newspaper gathered have approached the court for redress.
