Certificate Of Return: Okorocha Is On His Own – APC Throws Imo State Governor Under The Bus

Certificate Of Return: Okorocha Is On His Own – APC Throws Imo State Governor Under The Bus

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on
Wednesday broke its silence on the fate of the embattled Imo State
Governor, Rochas Okorocha who was denied Certificate of Return by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).  

Rochas Okorocha who has since been placed on indefinite suspension by
the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee won the
senatorial election to represent Imo West senatorial district in the
National Assembly but has been involved in the battle of wits to secure
his Certificate of Return.  

Findings revealed that the Commission’s action may not be unconnected
with the startling revelation of its Returning Officer for the Imo West
senatorial election, Professor Innocent Ibeawuchi, who alleged that he
was forced to declare Governor Rochas Okorocha the winner of the poll by
the supporters of the All Progressives Congress candidate.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday at an interactive session, the party
spokesman declared that having been suspended, Governor Okorocha ceased
to be a member of the ruling party.

He 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.”  

Onilu further dismissed insinuation that the open declaration for
candidates of African Action Congress in Rivers state by the Minister of
Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi amount to anti-party activities. He
noted that the APC was precluded from contesting elections in Rivers by
pronouncements of the Court.  

He said: “On whether what Rotimi Amaechi did in Rivers governorship
election amounted to anti-party activities, I will emphatically say no
because if you liken it to the situation in Imo or Ogun states, it will
be wrong. In Rivers State, APC does not have any candidate and as a
party, Rivers State is very important to us. The state has been in the
hands of pillagers for too long.  

“If we have the opportunity of working with a party willing to abide
by our principles, then it is within our right to work with such a party
to ensure we free the people of Rivers State from the locust. In this
case, he has not abandoned a particular candidate that belongs to the
APC for a candidate of another party. They are entirely different issues
and in that case, there is no anti-party. Whatever Amaechi has done is
completely normal and acceptable to this party as far as working with
other party is concerned.”