Tuesday’s late minute issuance of Certificate of Return by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to the former governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his consequent swearing in on Friday has again added the name of the Ogboko, Ideato South born politician in the records books of the state.
Okorocha had been in the woods since the INEC refused to allow him get the Certificate of Return based on the claims of the Returning Officer, Prof Ibeabuchi who after declaring the former governor winner of Orlu zone senate said he did such under duress prompting the electoral body to deny him the certificate.
However, the court judgment Okorocha got against INEC courtesy of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja ordering the electoral body to issue him the Certificate of Return has placed the former governor in the ranks of late Evan Enwerem. Enwerem was governor of Imo State 1992 to 1994 before the military junta struck to destroy the democratic process. But the arrival of the country’s nascent democracy saw Enwerem emerge Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The former governor, otherwise known as “Mature” from Ikeduru LGA was a former Senate President.
Joining Enwerem to record the feat of migrating from governor to Senate is Okorocha. Though, Enwerem witnessed time space because of military intervention but that of Okorocha was immediate.
Okorocha’s political trajectory has seen him aspire to be President of Nigeria a record four times under his pet party, the Action Alliance, ANPP, PDP and APC.
But he only succeeded in coming back home to become governor in 2011. In 2015, Okorocha attempted to make his Presidential project dream come true as he ran against Muhammadu Buhari, the eventual winner of the APC ticket who went further to emerge the President.
The former governor returned home after the dismal 2015 Presidential race outing to run for a second term as governor of Imo State. He won to complete another tenure before constitution knocked him off for another shot in Government House, Owerri. Okorocha picked the APC ticket for Imo West Senatorial District.
Meanwhile, the former governor has extended gratitude to the University don, Prof Ibeabuchi who told the world via a press conference that the Orlu zone Senate result was done under duress.
According to the former governor in a statement credited to his media aide, Sam Onwuemedo, the effort of Prof Ibeabuchi at stopping the initial issuance of Certificate of Return because of duress claim has made Okorocha’s case a national and international case hence the exercise became a special one.
