The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, has voiced its discontent with the judgement of the Federal High Court on Friday ordering it to issue arguably winner of the controversial Imo West Senatorial District election, ex-governor Rochas Okorocha, Certificate of Return.
INEC in a statement the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye released, expressed objection at the verdict saying it was a bad precedent.
The body explained that its primary preoccupation was to ensure the security of its staff and that of ad-hoc staff during election suggesting that the conduct of Okorocha and his goons during the said election endangered lives of electoral officers.
It reads in part: “The Commission’s overriding consideration is the safety of its ad-hoc staff, Electoral Officers and Collation/Returning Officers and is worried that if electoral impunity is allowed to flourish, any individual can harass, intimidate and put the Commission’s officers under duress, procure a favourable declaration and be rewarded with a Certificate of Return.”
