As if it was a conspiracy to wait until after the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly which took place today and the election of the presiding officers, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally issued Certificate of Return to the embattled former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
Okorocha was one of the two senators out of 109 that were not inaugurated today though he was one of the first to arrive the senate chambers.
Okorocha received his Certificate of Return as Senator-elect to represent Imo West senatorial district.
Okorocha’s certificate of return came few hours after the 9th Assembly leadership was formed with Ahmed Lawan and Ovie Omo-Agege emerging as Senate President and Deputy, respectively. And also, days after an Abuja Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Okon Abang, declared that the INEC, should issue Okorocha his certificate of return.
The Commission obeyed the directive after its management meeting on Tuesday.
The delay in issuing him the certificate of return came as a result of several litigations against him starting from when the Returning Officer for the Imo west Senatorial election, Innocent Ibeawuchi, alleged that he declared Okorocha, winner of the election under “duress and at gunpoint.”
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Okorocha said: “I take it to be God’s time. I have always believed that justice delayed is justice denied. I want to thank the Judiciary for doing the needful. I want to thank INEC for taking a bold step in giving me my certificate. This goes a long way to confirm that the allegations were a delay tactics to delay my certificate.”
