Hundreds of protesters, mainly from Anambra Central Senatorial district, on Thursday stormed the Abuja headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the release of a Certificate of Return to Dr. Obiora Okonkwo to enable him assume office as Senator representing the zone at the upper legislative chamber.

The protesters, mostly youths, arrived INEC headquarters in several buses at about 9:30am.

They also carried placards with various inscriptions, all calling on the commission to respect an order of the Federal High Court, which had pronounced Okonkwo the Senator for the zone, and ordered that he be issued with a certificate of return.

The court also ordered that he be sworn in immediately.

The protesters were worried that despite the service of the judgment order and copies of the judgment on INEC by a court bailiff, the commission was yet to act in accordance with the order of court.

According to the youths, the development had become worrisome. The protesters told journalists that they suspected foul play in INEC’s delay to implement the order.

Some inscriptions on the placards read: “INEC Obey FHC Order”, “INEC Give Dr. Okonkwo his Certificate of Return”; “Anambra Central and with Obiora Okonkwo”, “INEC Must Obey FHC Order”, “Okonkwo is our Senator”, among many others.

Spokesman of the protesters, who gave his name simply as Azubuike, said the people of the senatorial district were tired of being left out in the scheme of things at the Senate.

He said the youths embarked on the protest to compel INEC to release the Certificate of Return to Okonkwo as ordered by the Federal High Court.

According to him, the order of the Federal High Court was not ambiguous and was also yet to be challenged at any appellate court indicating that no one had issues with it.

He said INEC must obey the order of court as it tallied with the wish of the people, adding that it was wrong for INEC to foot drag on the issue.

However, an official of the commission, Richard Awolola, who identified himself as acting Director in Charge of Security, while commending the protesters for the orderly manner in which they conducted themselves, said the commission was studying the judgment.

He assured the youths that the commission would also respect the rule of law on the matter as he promised o convey their feelings to leadership of the commission.

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