The All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that it could not intervene in the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Certificate of Return to Imo West senator-elect, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, because he has been suspended by the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this in an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday.
According to him, Okorocha has also not informed the party about his face-off with INEC and so the party could not intervene.
Recall that the INEC Returning Officer for Imo West senatorial election, Prof. Innocent Ibeawuchi, had disclosed that he declared Okorocha as winner under duress.
The commission subsequently expunged Okorocha’s name from the list of senators handed Certificates of Return.
Reacting, Issa-Onilu said, “On the refusal of INEC to issue Certificate of Return to Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, who was announced the winner of the Imo West senatorial ticket, this party cannot take any action. Don’t forget that he is on suspension and as far as this party is concerned, that situation remains because there is no way we can say that somebody is on suspension and still go ahead to intervene in his case.
“In any case, he has not even come up to inform the party of his problem because he has realised that he is on suspension. Therefore, until it is vacated, the party will now step in to intervene as a party member who has a problem to resolve.”
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