Days to the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a certificate of return to Rochas Okorocha.

The court presided over by Justice Okon Abang in its ruling said that INEC’s refusal to declare Okorocha winner of the election was a “lawless decision”.

The judge ruled that only the returning officer of INEC had the authority as backed up by the constitution to declare a candidate winner of the election.

Abang added that whoever is declared winner by the returning officer remains so until proven beyond every reasonable doubt by petitioners haven succeeded in upturning the declaration at the election tribunal.

The court in its ruling said that Okorocha had no business to be the originator of the petition of the election tribunal.

Justice Abang ruled that the Federal High Court had the jurisdiction to decide on the matter describing INEC’s decision a “lawless and a complete nullity”.

INEC’s refusal to issue a certificate of return to Okorocha by the returning officer for Imo West was due to the pressures mounted on him to declare Okorocha winner.