Nwajiuba gets INEC’s certificate of return, seeks speakership seat

Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, House of Representative member -elect for Okigwe South federal Constituency on Monday collected his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and lent his voice to the strident call for the  House of Representative Speaker slot be zoned to the South-east geopolitical zone.


The ranking reps member ran the last election on the platform of Accord Party following a long drawn crisis that almost crippled All Progressives Congress (APC) his former party, in Imo State.


Speaking after the collection of the certificate in Abuja, Nwajiuba urged the ruling APC  to zone the Speakership position to the south east to enhance national stability, inclusiveness and consolidation of the progress made by the ruling party in South East.


According to him, “APC made great progress in 2019 than in 2015 elections. So, zoning such a position to the region will enhance national stability, inclusiveness and consolidation of the APC in the South East.”


Explaining the tortuous route he took to reclaim his mandate Nwajiuba noted that  although the  election was conducted on the 23rd of February, with a rerun-on the 9th of March, and final collation on the 23rd of March,  it had taken almost two months to collect  certificate of return.


INEC, he said committed an error initially in giving the certificate of return to Hon Chike Okafor who, by law was not a candidate in the 2019 general election. 


Earlier while presenting the Certificate , Barr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, in charge of Information and Voter Education said the commission is obeying the order of court. 


He denied the claim by some politicians that INEC  was not adhering to court orders and judgements,saying such attack on the reputation and credibility of the Commission was far from the truth.


Okoye urged  political parties and senior lawyers involved in election petition process to engage subordinates who are versed in election petition process to avoid misinterpretation.


“INEC is committed to obeying all court orders and judgments. INEC don’t adjudicate on matters. The moment court adjudicate on matter and we are duly served with certified copy of the judgment of court, we are duty bound to obey and enforce such laws from court judgment, whether it is favorable to us or not,” he said.


In issuing the Certificate of return to Nwajiuba, INEC also withdrew earlier Certificate it issued to Hon Chike Okafor.

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