The name of Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has been removed from list of elected senators by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At INEC website, a note for Imo West simply said: “Declared under duress.”
Okorocha was announced winner of the senatorial election of February 23, but returning officer for the election, Innocent Ibeabuchi, later said he was forced to declare the governor winner.
The commission’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had last week said the commission would not issue certificate of Return to any candidate declared winner of an election under duress.
“The commission will not tolerate the act of holding our officials hostage and forcing them to declare winners under duress. Where such occurs, the commission will not reward bad behaviour by issuing them certificates of return,” he said.