Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to do the right thing by issuing him with a Certificate of Return as the Senator-Elect for Imo West Senatorial District.
Claiming that he won the election for the seat, he said he was at sea as to why INEC did not invite him to the ceremony for the issuance of Certificate of Return to legislators elected.
He said he wanted to be in the Senate and should not be denied the opportunity.
“I will advise INEC to do the right thing, to release my certificate so that I can celebrate as others, I want to be in the Senate, and it will be interesting if I am there,” Okorocha said.
It would be recalled that the Returning Officer for the senatorial election claimed that he declared Okorocha winner under duress.
INEC has since removed Okorocha’s name from the list of Senators-Elect and refused to invite him for Certificate of Return.
But speaking on Thursday over the refusal to issue him the certificate, Okorocha said except INEC was planning a special event for him, there was no reason for denying him the document.
“I am sure you are aware that I was conspicuously absent at the certificates issuance ceremony.
“I was not there because INEC has removed my name from the list of elected Senators, having been declared the winner by the zonal returning officer. I am actually waiting to hear why INEC struck my name out.
“I think probably, INEC must be trying to do something special, because I understand that once results have been declared and returns made, then you are bound to be issued a Certificate of Return,” he said.
“Maybe INEC will want to organise a special programme for me to hand over the certificate to me, because clearly, I won and it was a peaceful election, the best you can ever think of,” he added.
Denying that the Returning Officer was not under duress to declare him winner, Okorocha said “I must let the world understand that this is a game that is being played.
“The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo is playing a script, and the script is so funny, it is so cruel and crude actually and they are executing it in a funny way.
“I understand that people are beginning to fight a war of the future now when we are not even yet there.
“The idea is that, do not give Okorocha a certificate; you must slow him down until after they have elected the presiding officers in the Senate, then you can let him come in,” he said.
