INEC has finally giving detailed reason why the Imo state governor-elect, Hope Uzodinma, has not been issued his certificate of return.
The election of Emeka Ihedioha was annulled on Monday January 14th by the Supreme Court in a unanimous judgement by 7 justices which was led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Tanko. The court declared Hope Uzodinma of APC the winner of the recently concluded governorship election which was held on March 9th
INEC was odered by the apex court to with immediate effect withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Ihedioha and issue a fresh one to the new APC winner, Uzodinma.
Hours after the court judgement, the INEC is yet to effect the order.
So while speaking with some journalists in Abuja earlier this afternoon, the Chief Press Secretary to electoral commission Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said they are yet to receive the order from the apex court and once it receives it, it will immediately issue Uzodinma his Certificate of Return. In his words
“Dear colleagues, please be informed that the commission is yet to be served with the enrolled order of the Supreme Court judgement. Therefore, we cannot issue the Certificate of Return to the APC candidate yet. However, once the commission receives the enrolled order, the CoR will be issued.”