The name of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, was not on the list of newly elected senators that was published on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s website.
INEC published the list of elected federal lawmakers ahead of the presentation of the Certificates of Return on Thursday.
In the slot for the three Imo Senatorial districts, only Senator-elect Onyewuchi Ezenwa Francis (Imo East), who won on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, was listed.
For Imo West Senatorial district, whose seat Governor Okorocha contested, it was blank except for an INEC remark, which read, “Declaration made under duress.”
Imo North’s slot was also empty except for a “Supplementary” remark.
Okorocha had contested the seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. He was declared winner by the Returning Officer for the Senatorial District, Innocent Ibeawuchi.
Ibeawuchi, later said that he was made to announce Okorocha as winner under duress.
The Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okoroacha who contested for Imo west senatorial seat has been excluded from the issuance of Certificate of return to Senators-elect.
The commission indicated that his declaration as winner of the poll was made under duress by the returning officer.
The issuance of Certificate of return is billed to take place on the 14th of March at International Conference Centre in Abuja at 10.00 am for senators-elect and 2.00 pm for Members of the House of Representatives-elect.
Bauchi South senatorial seat is also vacant. Although the seat has been allotted to the APC but the authentic owner of the seat is to be determined by the court.
The INEC list puts the current composition of the 9th senate per party lines: 62 senators from All Progressives Congress (APC); 37 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and 1 from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
The gender composition of the 9th senate also shows that there are six females so far declared winners in the polls.
