Imo West: Uzodimma heads to attraction court docket

Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has disclosed plans to attraction the Federal High Court judgement recognising his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, because the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District within the 2027 basic elections.

Uzodimma, via his Chief Press Secretary, Oguike Nwachuku, described the judgement as a “travesty of justice” and expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the choice.

Nwachuku disclosed the governor’s place whereas reacting to Okorocha’s current tv interview, throughout which the previous governor claimed to stay the dominant political determine within the APC in Imo State and accused Uzodimma of utilizing paperwork containing irregularities to safe the get together’s senatorial ticket.

“Obviously, the Governor will appeal the judgement which is a travesty of justice,” Nwachuku advised PREMIUM TIMES.

Uzodimma’s camp dismisses Okorocha’s claims

The governor’s choice to problem the judgement adopted Okorocha’s look on Arise News’ Prime Time programme on Thursday, the place he questioned the legitimacy of Uzodimma’s emergence because the APC candidate.

Okorocha had insisted that his political construction remained dominant in Imo State regardless of opposition from the governor’s camp.

“The structure of APC in Imo State is Rochas,” the previous governor declared.

However, Nwachuku dismissed the declare, accusing Okorocha of trying to undermine the APC and work towards the re-election ambition of President Bola Tinubu.

Describing the previous governor as “chasing shadows”, the governor’s spokesperson insisted that Okorocha’s celebration of the court docket judgement was untimely, expressing confidence that it might not survive an attraction.

Uzodimma’s camp defends APC main

Explaining how Uzodimma emerged because the get together’s candidate, Nwachuku mentioned a direct main was carried out in Imo West as a result of Okorocha rejected the consensus association adopted within the state’s different two senatorial districts.

According to him, political stakeholders in Owerri Zone, which produces Imo East, and Okigwe Zone, which produces Imo North, agreed on consensus preparations that produced Prince Alex Mbata and Senator Patrick Ndubueze, respectively.

He mentioned Okorocha, nevertheless, insisted on contesting towards Uzodimma throughout the 12 native authorities areas in Imo West.

Nwachuku maintained that the governor gained the first with 230,464 votes towards Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.

He added that officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the train, whereas the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, led by its chairman and returning officer, retired Rear Admiral Williams Kayoda, supervised the method throughout the native authorities areas.

The governor’s spokesperson insisted that the train was legit and rejected allegations of irregularities surrounding the end result.

Governor, Okorocha disagree over APC management

Nwachuku additionally faulted Okorocha’s declare to manage the APC construction in Imo State, arguing that the get together’s guidelines recognise sitting governors as leaders of the get together of their respective states.

He maintained that President Bola Tinubu remained the nationwide chief of the APC, whereas Uzodimma managed the get together’s construction in Imo State.

“By the APC rules, the governors are the leaders of the party in their states while the president is the leader in the country. I’m not aware that rule has changed,” he mentioned.

He accused the previous governor of trying to personalise the get together’s construction somewhat than undergo its established management.

Nwachuku additionally criticised Okorocha’s eight-year administration in Imo State, describing it as a household system of presidency and questioning his claims of continued political recognition within the state.

How court docket dominated in Okorocha’s favour

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, had dominated in favour of Okorocha within the dispute over the APC senatorial main for Imo West.

The court docket declared the previous governor the validly nominated candidate of the get together and directed INEC to recognise him for the 2027 senatorial election.

The judgement adopted a go well with filed by Okorocha difficult INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma because the winner of the APC main carried out on May 18, 2026.

During his tv look, Okorocha alleged that paperwork supporting Uzodimma’s emergence contained inconsistencies, together with discrepancies within the date of the first and the outline of the train as a consensus association regardless of the existence of competing aspirants.

He additionally questioned consequence sheets allegedly accomplished by one individual throughout 144 wards and 12 native authorities areas.

The former governor mentioned he obtained licensed copies of paperwork regarding the first from INEC on July 26, 2026, whereas paperwork supporting Uzodimma’s emergence have been offered to the fee on August 22.

He alleged that the discrepancies shaped a part of the proof that persuaded the court docket to recognise him because the winner of the first.

However, Uzodimma’s camp has rejected the allegations, insisting that the first was correctly carried out below the supervision of INEC officers and the APC’s nationwide election committee.

The APC had additionally indicated that it might research the judgement and pursue accessible authorized cures.

The dispute is the most recent chapter within the political rivalry between the 2 politicians. Okorocha ruled Imo State from 2011 to 2019 and subsequently represented Imo West within the Senate from 2019 to 2023.