Amosun, Okorocha’s Suspension: INEC Speaks On Validity Of Their Senatorial Victory

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made its position known on the suspension of Governors Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, following their suspension by the All Progressives Congress (APC) after they won senatorial elections on the platform of the party.

Amosun and Okorocha were last week suspended and recommended for expulsion from the APC after they were accused of anti-party activities by the National Working Committee of the party.

Recall that following the defeat of their preferred governorship candidates in the primary elections of the APC in their respective states, the governors had declared support for their candidates who upon losing the primary elections had defected to different political parties to pursue their governorship bids.

Despite his suspension from the APC, Amosun has continued to campaign for Mr Dapo Abiodun of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Similarly, Okorocha has backed the governorship bid of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA), against the candidate of his party, Senator Hope Uzodima.

In its reaction to the suspension of the governors and the validity of the senatorial seats they won on the APC platform, INEC said the party’s decision was an internal party affair.

“The validity of the returns made are within the purview of the commission and the Election Petitions Tribunals,” INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voters Education, Festus Okoye said

“The suspension or expulsion of members of a political party is within the domestic realm of the parties and has nothing to do with the presidential and National Assembly elections,” he said.