By Damola Emmanuel
Finally, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, senator representing Imo North Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, got his last laugh, Thursday, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, finally awarded him his Certificate of Return.
Uwajumogu, a second term senator, who had been Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, walked on air as he was presented with his Certificate of Return at about 4p.m. on Thursday.
His family, friends and well-wishers were jubilant as he got the vital document at the INEC Headquarters, Abuja.
Uwajumogu, who ran for re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had won the Imo North Senatorial District election held on February 23, 2019, and was duly declared winner by the Returning Officer.
But INEC refused to issue him the certificate alleging that the vote was marred by irregularities, which, it said it was still investigating. That position by the electoral body generated intense controversy with many stakeholders accusing INEC of bias.
Thus, Uwajumogu began the long drawn battle to claim his mandate. He headed to court and sought an order to compel INEC to issue him the certificate.
On Friday, July 6, 2019, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, of the Federal High Court siting in Abuja ordered INEC to “immediately issue” a Certificate of Return to Senator Uwajumogu.
Delivering judgement, Justice Taiwo Taiwo had ruled that “INEC does not have the power and right under any law in Nigeria to review or otherwise deal with any question related or connected to the declaration and return of the applicant for the Imo North Senatorial District election on the 23rd of February and 9th March 2019 after the returning officer had taken a decision.”
The court, among others, also ruled “that an order of mandatory injunction is hereby made compelling INEC to immediately issue the applicant, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, a sealed Certificate of Return for the Imo North Senatorial District.”
Still, INEC refused to comply.
Perhaps pushed to the wall, about 100 supporters of Senator Uwajumogu, who tagged themselves Concerned Citizens, marched to INEC Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday, July 22, to protest the commission’s continued refusal to issue the Certificate of Return to the Imo North Senator as directed by Justice Taiwo Taiwo.
Shortly after, Uwajumogu drove to the INEC headquarters but was denied access by security personnel at the gate. Tempers flared and the situation degenerated to a face-off between his supporters and security operatives.
In the process, the senator’s driver used his SUV to block the main entrance thereby preventing visitors from accessing the commission’s premises. Uwajumogu was later allowed to enter the complex.
Prior to that, he had told journalists that he never came to cause trouble but to ask INEC to issue his certificate as ordered by the court in order “to forestall a breakdown of peace and order.”
“I am here to demand for my Certificate of Return from INEC which I deserve,” he continued. “As you are aware, elections were conducted, INEC has refused to give me my CoR. As law-abiding citizens, we approached the Federal High Court which about three weeks ago, gave judgment in our favour, demanding that INEC should give us my CoR.
“Until today, INEC has refused, we know that there are people who are working in cahoots with the opposition and INEC to ensure that we do not get our CoR. Some other persons who have been given their certificates did not have to go through any committee. Why is mine going through this process? Why is INEC giving the excuse of the commission’s meeting to deny us of my CoR when a proper court of competent jurisdiction has given an order?”
Well, on Thursday, Senator Uwajumogu’s agonising wait came to a happy ending. Finally, INEC complied with the court order and issued him his Certificate of Return.
Speaking with journalists after receiving the dividend of his almost four months struggle, the senator-elect said he was grateful to God for bringing the matter to a favourable conclusion.
He praised the judiciary for upholding the truth and projecting itself in manner that reinforced the widely held belief that it was the last hope of the common man and the heartbeat of democracy.
After pledging to rededicate himself to rendering fruitful service to his constituents in Imo North, an elated Uwajumogu also commended INEC for obeying the court order.
