Former Imo governor Rochas Okorocha describes the Federal High Court ruling recognising him as the APC’s Imo West senatorial candidate as a victory for the state, while raising questions about documents submitted during the party primary dispute.
Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has praised President Bola Tinubu following a Federal High Court judgment recognising him as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election, describing the decision as a turning point for the state.
Okorocha made the remarks on Thursday while receiving members of his legal team after Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court ruled that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, and directed the party to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027. The court also ordered Governor Hope Uzodinma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the contest.
Okorocha Describes Judgment as Victory for Imo
Reacting to the ruling, the former governor commended the judiciary for what he described as its commitment to justice, saying the outcome was significant for the people of Imo State.
He expressed concern about what could have happened if the court had delivered a decision that, in his view, compromised justice.
Okorocha said the judgment represented a victory for the state and its people.
He also linked the outcome to the symbolic shackle associated with Tinubu’s traditional cap, arguing that the court decision had given Imo residents a new understanding of the symbol.
According to him, the ruling meant that the shackles holding the state had been broken. He further claimed that the development showed the President was dissatisfied with the situation surrounding the dispute.
Although Okorocha expressed gratitude to Tinubu, he did not provide evidence that the President intervened in the legal proceedings or influenced the court’s decision.
Dispute Over APC Primary Election Documents
The legal battle arose from Okorocha’s challenge to INEC’s recognition of Uzodinma as the APC’s candidate for Imo West.
The controversy intensified earlier in October after INEC reportedly petitioned the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) over the circulation of a disputed document online that purported to identify Okorocha as the winner of the party’s primary.
INEC maintained that its official report showed Uzodinma as the winner of the exercise.
The commission’s position contrasted with the outcome of the latest court proceedings, in which Justice Egwuatu ruled in Okorocha’s favour.
Okorocha Questions Claims About Consensus and Election Dates
The former governor also addressed reports concerning his alleged arrest, explaining that he chose not to comment publicly when the reports first emerged.
He subsequently questioned the documents used in the dispute over the APC primary, particularly records suggesting that Uzodinma had emerged through a consensus arrangement.
Okorocha argued that the claim of a consensus selection appeared inconsistent with documents that reportedly contained individual vote scores.
He also raised concerns about discrepancies in the dates stated in the documents, pointing to a record that he said listed May 16 as the primary election date instead of May 18, 2026, when the exercise was reportedly conducted.
He questioned which of the documents formed the basis of the court’s consideration during the proceedings.
INEC’s Reported Vote Figures
The controversy also involved conflicting accounts of the primary election result.
According to the report, INEC maintained that the official result submitted to its headquarters showed Uzodinma winning with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha received 1,098 votes.
The commission subsequently asked security agencies to investigate the circulation of a different document that purported to name Okorocha as the winner.
The Federal High Court’s ruling has now introduced a significant development in the contest for the APC ticket in Imo West ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The report did not indicate whether the APC, INEC or Uzodinma would challenge the judgment through an appeal.
