Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has called on his successor, Governor Hope Uzodimma, to restrain his aides from attacking the judiciary following a Federal High Court judgment that nullified Uzodimma’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.
Okorocha urged the governor to pursue his appeal all the way to the Supreme Court instead of allowing his supporters to denigrate the courts over the October 29 judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, which recognised the former governor as the winner of the party’s May 18 senatorial primary.
Okorocha Speaks at Abuja Court Registry
The former governor made the call on Tuesday at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he said he had gone to sign documents at the court registry in connection with the appeal filed by Uzodimma against the judgment.
Okorocha was reacting to comments attributed to the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff and the APC National Vice Chairman, who reportedly described the judgment as rubbish and procured. He condemned what he described as attempts to intimidate the judiciary.
He said he had listened to the news the previous day and found it deeply troubling that the governor’s aides, including his Deputy Chief of Staff and the APC National Vice Chairman, could berate and insult a judge.
According to Okorocha, one of the aides described the judgment as rubbish and procured and suggested that the judge should look at himself in the mirror. He described the remark as terrible, adding that the other aide, whose wife is herself a judge, was also insulting the judge over a judgment.
He argued that the conduct suggested a double standard in which judgments are considered good whenever they favour the governor but the judiciary is branded evil whenever a ruling goes against him.
Describing the situation as uncivilised, Okorocha called on Uzodimma to caution his attack dogs and supporters to refrain from insulting judges, saying the behaviour does not represent the nation well and that he felt particularly hurt by it.
Respect the Courts, Okorocha Tells Successor
The former governor maintained that the court’s decision should be respected, noting that Uzodimma had benefited from favourable court judgments in the past. He nevertheless expressed confidence in the Nigerian judiciary, saying he believed the right thing would be done.
The dispute stems from the October 29 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified Uzodimma’s emergence as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.
Justice Egwuatu held that Okorocha secured the highest number of lawful votes in the party’s May 18 primary and was therefore entitled to the ticket. The court consequently ordered the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
With the governor having filed an appeal against the ruling, Okorocha’s message places the focus on the conduct of the parties and their supporters as the legal battle continues through the courts.
