At last, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued former Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state with his certificate of return as senator-elect for Imo West.
Okorocha received the certificate on Tuesday after the election of Senators Ahmed Lawan and Ovie Omo-Agege as Senate president and deputy president respectively.
Earlier on inauguration day, Okorocha was refused accreditation as senator-elect at the inauguration of the ninth National Assembly because of his non-recognition by INEC.
He was declared winner of the February 23 senatorial election for Imo West zone but the returning officer, Innocent Ibeabuchi, said he was forced to make the declaration.
Okorocha then approached the High Court seeking an order compelling INEC to issue him a certificate of return.
In response, the commission refused to issue him one, saying it was reviewing the situation.
The former governor also accused his estranged party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of working with the electoral body to frustrate his senatorial ambition.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court on Friday, June 7 directed INEC to issue Okorocha with the certificate.
The judge described the commission’s refusal to recognise his election as “lawlessness and a complete nullity.”
Abang said INEC had no power to act as it did. He said such an action implied the creation of new laws by INEC.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after collecting the certificate in Abuja, Okorocha said he was told at exactly 6.14 p.m. that his certificate was ready.
“At exactly 6.14 pm, this evening, after the inauguration of the 9th Assembly, I was invited to collect my certificate and I have just come to collect it.
“I take it to be God’s time. I believe that justice delayed is justice denied, but all the same for the sake of our nation, I accepted it, ” he said.
Okorocha commended the judiciary for doing the needful and for being there at the needed time as well as serve as the last resort for the common citizens or anybody that felt oppressed.
“I also want to thank INEC for taking this bold step against all odds by issuing my certificate of return, which goes a long way to confirming that the allegation of duress is unfounded by a delay tactic by my detractors to slow down the process.
“I believe this is God’s time and I take it as God’s time. I am happy that finally the matter is resolved.
Asked of his feelings about not being able to participate in the inauguration ceremony for the 9th assembly and the voting process that produced the leadership of the 9th Senate, Okorocha said:” I missed it because I did not have a certificate.
“Now that I have the certificate I have opportunity to join my colleagues to see how to move Nigeria forward.”
“I belong in the APC and I believe there is nothing wrong with the party but its management.
“I will not stop being an APC member because of somebody. I came into APC alone and I am in the party. I believe in the party. It will be good to say that time will tell,” he said.
He said that he came to the senate to rebuild the political bridges and the rest of the country.
“I have also decided to see the possibility of free education at all levels in Nigeria, so that ordinary people, the poor can have access to education,” Okorocha said.