Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has praised President Bola Tinubu following a Federal High Court judgment nullifying Governor Hope Uzodimma’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West senatorial election.
Okorocha, who described the judgment as a victory for the people of Imo State, declared that the development had broken what he called the “shackles” holding the state.
In a video circulating on social media on Thursday, the former governor thanked Tinubu, suggesting that the ruling reflected the President’s dissatisfaction with developments surrounding the APC senatorial primary in the state.
“This is a victory for the entire residents of Imo West. This is the first time the Imo people will understand the sign in President Tinubu’s cap: the broken shackle,” he said.
“By this judgment, Imo has joined the broken shackle. That is, the shackles on Imo State have been broken.
“And it is also evident that the presidency is tired of this nonsense that is going on. It is evident that they are not in support of it. So, we thank President Bola Tinubu for this.”
Okorocha also commended the judiciary, describing the ruling as evidence that justice was no longer determined by the highest bidder.
The former governor said he had deliberately refrained from commenting on the controversy despite allegations that he forged documents, preferring to allow the court to examine the evidence and determine the rightful winner of the party primary.
He questioned the validity of documents submitted in support of Uzodimma’s candidacy, particularly those indicating that the governor emerged through a consensus arrangement and another claiming that the primary election was held on May 16, two days before the May 18 date on which the exercise was officially conducted.
Okorocha also raised questions about a letter purportedly written by the Imo Resident Electoral Commissioner to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), presenting Uzodimma as the winner.
He queried how the APC could have certified the letter as an authentic party document when, according to him, it had not originated from the party.
The former governor further praised his legal representative, describing him as one of the finest lawyers he had encountered. He claimed the lawyer handled the case without charging him because of his conviction that an injustice had occurred.
Earlier on Thursday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to withdraw Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate for Imo West and restore Okorocha’s name.
The judge held that the evidence before the court established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes in the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18.
He faulted INEC for recognising Uzodimma’s nomination despite what he described as overwhelming documentary evidence that the governor did not win the primary.
Okorocha had instituted the suit in August, challenging INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate. He argued that the commission was bound by the reports submitted by its officials who monitored the primary election.
The ruling introduces a fresh legal and political dimension to the APC’s internal contest in Imo West, with the party and affected candidates facing the implications of the court’s directive.
