Certificate Of Return: ‘No Special Ceremony For You,’ INEC Replies Okorocha

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has responded to alleged claims by the outgoing governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha that the commission is planning a special ceremony for senators-elect that have not received their certificate of return.

Recall that last week, the commission presented certificates of return to lawmakers elected at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja.

However, Okorocha was absent at the event as his name was omitted by the electoral body with “declaration made under duress” boldly written beside his name.

But the governor, according to Leadership, explaining why he was absent said, “I was not there because INEC has removed my name from the list of elected Senator.

“I am actually waiting to hear why INEC struck my name out.”

He further said he suspected that he name was absent because the commission was planning something special.

“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.

But INEC’s director of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, in a reaction said INEC was planning nothing special. “There is no special ceremony for anybody. I think we should get that one quite clear. Anybody thinking otherwise will be living in fool’s paradise.

“As far as we are concerned, we have presented certificates to those due to get certificates and for those who could not come for one reason or the other, we will still present theirs to them if they are yet to receive,” he said.

He said when a declaration is made under duress, “I don’t think there will be a second ballot. The return officer and the commission will take a decision and we will alert the public when the time is apt for that.”