Tinubu has broken Imo’s shackles — Okorocha hails court judgment
Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha expressed support for President Bola Tinubu following a Federal High Court ruling that recognized him as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District. In a statement, Okorocha described the judgment as a pivotal moment for the state, indicating that it had “broken the shackles” that restrained it.
Okorocha made his remarks during a gathering with his legal team on Thursday, following the ruling delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu in Abuja. The court determined that Okorocha had won the APC senatorial primary held on May 18, 2026, and ordered the party to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the upcoming January 16, 2027, senatorial election. Additionally, the court instructed Governor Hope Uzodimma to cease referring to himself as the party’s candidate.
In his response to the ruling, Okorocha thanked the judiciary for upholding justice, emphasizing that the outcome represented a victory for the people of Imo State. “I could imagine what would have happened in the state if they decided to twist justice. This is a victory for Imo State,” he stated.
Okorocha also connected the ruling to the symbolic shackle on President Tinubu’s traditional cap, suggesting that the decision clarified the President’s stance on the issue. “This is 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,” he remarked.
While he expressed gratitude towards Tinubu, Okorocha did not provide evidence indicating that the President had influenced the legal proceedings. The court ruling comes after a protracted legal battle during which Okorocha challenged INEC’s acknowledgment of Uzodimma as the APC candidate for Imo West. The dispute gained further attention this month when INEC reported to security agencies regarding a falsified document that had surfaced online, which claimed Okorocha was the primary winner.
INEC has consistently maintained that its official report recognized Uzodimma as the primary victor.
Addressing rumors about his alleged arrest, Okorocha stated that he chose not to comment when the news initially surfaced. “When the news broke out that I was arrested, I refused to make any comments,” he said. He also voiced concerns about the documents presented in relation to the APC primary, questioning the claims that Uzodimma had been selected through consensus and pointing out alleged inconsistencies in recorded dates.
“How can a document state that Uzodimma emerged through consensus while also recording individual scores?” Okorocha asked, highlighting a document that he claimed inaccurately listed the primary election date as May 16 instead of May 18.
This legal controversy intensified after INEC reaffirmed that Uzodimma won the primary with 230,464 votes, compared to Okorocha’s 1,098 votes. The commission has since requested investigations into the dissemination of alternative documents, further complicating the situation.
The recent court ruling is a significant development in the contest for the APC ticket in Imo West, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
