Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State , has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling it to issue to him a certificate of return as the senator – elect for the Imo West Senatorial District .
INEC had refused to issue him the certificate of return after the Returning Officer for the February 23 election , Prof . Francis Ibeawuchi , said he announced the governor as winner of the senatorial election under duress .
In the suit filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju ( SAN ), the plaintiff made INEC the sole defendant in the suit .
But by agreement of the lawyers in the case, the judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo , made an order permitting the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election, Jones Onyeriri , and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance , Senator Osita Izunaso , to be joined as the 2 nd and the 3 rd defendants .
Izunaso was represented by his lawyer , Nwafor Orizu ; Onyeyiri was represented by Emeka Etiaba ( SAN ), and INEC by Mrs Wendy Kuku .
Justice Taiwo ordered the defendants to file and exchange their processes within 10 days , while the plaintiff counsel was given three days to respond to them .
The judge adjourned the matter till April 5.
PUNCH
