Immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for issuing him his certificate of return as the senator-elect for Imo west.

Okorocha, in a statement by his media aide, Sam Onwuemedo, in Owerri, said that he was happy that the issuance of certificate of return received national and international attention.

He said that that that he commended the INEC Retuning Officer, Prof Innocent Ibeabuchi who said that he declared him(Okorocha) senator-elect under duress.

The statement read in part, “With the release of his certificate of return as the Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District, former governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has thanked God.

“He also thanked Nigerians for their concern and solidarity all through the period his certificate of return was an issue”.

INEC, after a management meeting on Tuesday, yielded to an order by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presented Okorocha his certificate of return as Senator-elect, Imo West Senatorial District.

This followed months of refusal by the commission to issue Okorocha a certificate over allegations by its returning officer, that he declared the results under duress.