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 Imo West Senatorial District in the January 16, 2027 election, describing the ruling as a turning point for the state.
Okorocha made the remarks on Thursday while hosting members of his legal team after the judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of 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 forthcoming election. The court also ordered Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial seat.
Reacting to the ruling, Okorocha commended the judiciary, saying the judgment represented a victory for justice and the people of Imo State.
“I thank the judiciary for standing on the side of justice. I could imagine what would have happened in the state if they decided to twist justice. This is a victory for Imo State,” he said.
The former governor also drew a connection between the judgment and the symbolic shackle associated with Tinubu’s traditional cap, arguing that the ruling had given the people of Imo State a new understanding of the symbol.
“This is also the first time the Imo people will understand the sign of the shackle on President Tinubu’s cap. By this judgment, the shackle on Imo State has been broken,” Okorocha said.
He further claimed that the President was no longer supportive of what he described as the prevailing political situation in the state. However, he offered no direct evidence that Tinubu intervened in the dispute or influenced the court’s decision.
The legal battle centred on who legitimately emerged as the APC candidate for Imo West. The controversy intensified after INEC maintained that the official result submitted to its headquarters showed Uzodimma winning the primary with 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.
The electoral commission also petitioned the police and the Department of State Services over the circulation of a disputed document online that purportedly identified Okorocha as the winner of the primary. INEC maintained that its official report recognised Uzodimma as the winner.
Okorocha questioned the documents reportedly presented in support of Uzodimma’s candidacy, particularly the claim that the governor emerged through consensus despite figures allegedly showing individual scores. He also raised concerns over a discrepancy in the date of the primary, saying one document reportedly listed May 16, whereas the election took place on May 18.
“So which one did the court really dwell on?” he asked, questioning the documentary evidence involved in the dispute.
The former governor also addressed reports surrounding his alleged arrest, saying he chose not to comment when the news first emerged.
The judgment represents a major development in the contest for the APC ticket in Imo West ahead of the 2027 general elections. Its practical effect will depend on the implementation of the court’s orders and any subsequent legal proceedings.
