Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has lauded President Bola Tinubu following a Federal High Court judgment recognising him as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District, describing the ruling as a turning point for the state.
Speaking on Thursday while receiving members of his legal team, Okorocha said the court’s decision had effectively “broken the shackles” that had held Imo State back.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled that Okorocha emerged winner of the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026. The court subsequently directed the party to forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
The court also ordered Governor Hope Uzodimma to cease presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the contest.
Reacting to the verdict, Okorocha commended the judiciary for upholding justice and described the judgment as a victory not only for him but for 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 linked the decision to the symbolic shackle often seen on President Tinubu’s traditional cap, arguing that the judgment demonstrated the President’s dissatisfaction with the political dispute in the state.
“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, and it is also evident that the President is tired of this nonsense and that he is not in support of it,” Okorocha stated.
Although he expressed gratitude to the President, Okorocha did not provide evidence of any direct involvement by Tinubu in the legal proceedings or the court’s decision.
The legal battle stemmed from a dispute over the APC senatorial ticket for Imo West. Okorocha had challenged INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate, insisting he won the primary election.
The controversy deepened earlier in October when INEC petitioned security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), over a disputed document circulating online that allegedly declared Okorocha the winner of the primary. The electoral body maintained that its official records recognised Uzodimma as the winner.
Addressing reports of his alleged arrest during the controversy, Okorocha said he deliberately chose not to comment publicly when the reports emerged.
He also questioned documents presented during the dispute, citing inconsistencies in claims that Uzodimma emerged through consensus despite recorded scores being attributed to contestants.
Okorocha further raised concerns about discrepancies in dates contained in some of the documents, noting that one document reportedly listed May 16 as the date of the primary election instead of May 18, when the exercise was conducted.
The dispute intensified after INEC maintained that results submitted to its headquarters showed Uzodimma polling 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes. The commission subsequently sought an investigation into the circulation of conflicting results allegedly declaring Okorocha the winner.
The court’s ruling is expected to reshape the APC’s senatorial contest in Imo West and could have significant political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections