2027: Okorocha Tells Uzodimma, Aides To Stop Attacking Judge Over Imo West APC Judgment

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has asked his successor, Hope Uzodimma, and his aides to stop attacking the judge who ruled against the governor’s claim to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.

Okorocha urged Uzodimma to pursue his appeal up to the Supreme Court rather than denigrate the judiciary over the October 26 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The former governor spoke on Tuesday at the court premises, where he said he had gone to sign some documents at the court registry in connection with the appeal filed by Uzodimma against the judgment.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu had upheld Okorocha’s claim to the APC senatorial ticket for Imo West.

Reacting to comments by the governor’s aides and the APC National Vice Chairman, Okorocha described their attacks on the judge as unacceptable, questioning why the judiciary was praised when judgments favoured Uzodimma but condemned when they went against him.

“I listened to that news yesterday and it was so horrible, so terrible, that Governor Hope’s aide, in the name of his Deputy Chief of Staff, and the National Vice Chairman of APC, could berate a judge, insult a judge.

“So, it means that whenever the judgment is for Hope then, it is good but, whenever it is against him then the Judiciary is evil. I think this is very uncivilized. I want him to caution his attack dogs and his people to refrain from insulting judges. It doesn’t represent this nation well, and I feel particularly hurt,” he said.

Okorocha alleged that Uzodimma had directed his aides, commissioners and other associates to attack the judge, insisting that the governor should allow the appeal process to run its course.

“At least the Supreme Court is there,” he said.

He also questioned the governor’s objections to the judgment, arguing that the court had relied on discrepancies in the documents relating to the APC primary election.

“So it is very shocking and very surprising. I don’t know what they expected; that the judge should have said that the election was done on the 16th for Hope, when that actual date is 18th?

“Or, he would have said that Hope emerged by consensus, which is not true?” Okorocha asked.

He also questioned the authenticity of documents allegedly signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State and the APC National Chairman, which he said indicated that Uzodimma emerged through consensus and that the election took place two days earlier.

The former governor urged the political actors to protect the judiciary and allow justice to prevail.

“Hope has been a very big and unusual beneficiary of the court and I think he should have respected,” he added.

Okorocha challenged Uzodimma to publicly dispute his claims rather than allegedly using aides to attack judges.

“If you (Uzodimma) think any of the things I am saying is not true and that the judgment is not true, Hope should come to television or come and speak.

“Why is he (Uzodimma) hiding and using attack dogs here and there to attack judges? That is very bad, and that shows what it means,” he said.

Okorocha also accused the governor of presenting forged documents during the proceedings, alleging that inconsistencies in the materials certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) left the judge with little choice but to rule against him.

“In fact, if you look at the documents certified by INEC, according to Hope, and look at the inconsistencies and irregularities, then you could say that even the judge has no choice. Even the judge that will want to do wrong cannot do wrong in this case,” he said.

He again urged Uzodimma to pursue his appeal instead of allowing his supporters to attack the judiciary.

“Stop insulting judges. Pursue your appeal and stop your attack dogs from insulting everybody and insulting the Judiciary,” he said.

The former governor, however, expressed confidence in the Nigerian judiciary, saying he believed the right thing would be done.

“I salute the Nigerian Judiciary, honestly. To whatever you might say, they’re still very good. And I believe that the right thing should be done,” he said.