“Give Me My Certificate, You Don’t Have The Right To Seize My Certificate” – Okorocha Dares INEC

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give him his senatorial certificate, noting that the commission lacks the power to seize his certificate because of a mere petition against him.

Rocha Okorocha, who is the senator-elect in the just concluded National Assembly election, missed out from the list of senators-elect presented by INEC that will receive their certificates on Thursday. The commission argued that the governor was declared winner under duress.

In reaction when some of his supporters marched to the government house to protest, Okorocha said:

“I wonder why INEC will withhold my certificate for a frivolous reason, without hearing from me. I am not a violent person and those who know me know that.”

“This is why we have peace in Imo state. The Returning Officer could not have done that under duress under the watchful eyes of the Police, DSS and party agents. I am not unmindful of the fact that those who are fighting me from Abuja are anxious to see me removed as a senator. I urge INEC to do the right thing immediately by releasing my certificate.

“Let me tell every Nigerian that I fought no one and no one should fight me. If anyone fights me, he will be the loser at the end of it all. My INEC Certificate cannot be touched or seized, doing so is belittling democracy in Nigeria.

“It is only the tribunal that has the right to say otherwise once a result is declared. INEC cannot seize my certificate by mere petition written by somebody in a case I was not given the opportunity to present my own side of the story.”