Senate President, Ahmed Lawan Swears In Okorocha As Senator

The immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has been sworn in a Senator by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

He will represent Imo West Senatorial District at the hallowed chambers.

The former governor was not inaugurated on Tuesday when the ninth National Assembly was constituted.

Recall that INEC had on Tuesday evening issued Okorocha with the certificate in obedience of a recent order by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court had issued the order after Okorocha filed a suit against INEC for refusing to issue him with his certificate after previously declaring him as winner of the senatorial election.

Justice Okon Abang had ruled that the decision to deprive Okorocha of the certificate was “lawless.”

Okorocha was not inaugurated on 11^th because he was yet to be issued the certificate of return at the time the 9^th assembly was being inaugurated.

Recall that the ex-governor was declared as the winner of the February 23 senatorial election, but the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Innocent Ibeabuchi said he made the declaration under duress.

Accordingly, INEC had refused to issue him a return certificate, maintaining that it was still reviewing the situation.

Mr. Okorocha then approached the High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling INEC to issue him a certificate of return.