Like Saraki, Rochas Okorocha about to become politically inactive

Rochas Okorocha who had been announced the winner of the Imo west senatorial district in the February 23 election, has now had his name removed from list of senatorial candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

It will be recalled that Innocent Ibeabuchi, returning officer for the election in the state, had said he was forced to declare false results in the governor’s favour after being held hostage and under duress.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman on Thursday during a meeting in Abuja had said the electoral body will not tolerate  candidates who held its officials hostage, forcing them to declare results.

“I am confident that working together with the security agencies, we will consolidate on the largely peaceful conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections while also taking decisive steps to deal with the minority of violators intent on disrupting the conduct of peaceful elections.”

“However, 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.”

This is only one half of the governor’s problem, as his son in-law,Uche Nwosu, who he supported to  succeeded him as governor was thrashed heavily by Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the results from the governorship election in the state.