The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reacted to the Supreme Court’s judgment on Tuesday, which nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the Governor of Imo State.
Recall that, a seven-member Panel of the apex court, led by Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad, declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the March 9 Governorship election in the State.
The court then ordered that the certificate of return wrongly or unlawfully issued to lhedioha be immediately withdrawn by INEC and a fresh one issued to Uzodinma as the elected Governor of the State.
An INEC Spokesperson, Festus Okoye, in response on Wednesday, said that the Commission is constitutionally and legally bound to give effect to the judgement and orders of the Supreme Court.
He noted that INEC would issue a certificate of return as soon it receives the order of the court.
”The judgement of the Supreme Court is final and the Commission is not empowered to question or debate the propriety of the judgement or orders of the Supreme Court.
”As a public institution, we are constitutionally and legally bound to give effect to the judgements and orders of the Supreme Court. The commission will give effect to the judgement of the court the moment we receive the enrolled order of the court and will issue the candidate the requisite Certificate of Return,” Okoye said.
