Okorocha warns Uzodinma against attacks on judiciary over APC Senatorial dispute

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has urged his successor, Hope Uzodinma, to caution his aides and supporters against verbally attacking judges following a Federal High Court judgment nullifying his nomination as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Imo West Senatorial District election.

Okorocha, who spoke with journalists on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, described the reported attacks on Justice Obiora Egwuatu as unacceptable, insisting that grievances against judicial decisions should be addressed through legal channels.

The former governor was at the court to sign documents at the registry in connection with Uzodinma’s appeal against the October 29 judgment.

Justice Egwuatu had ordered Uzodinma to stop parading himself as the APC senatorial candidate, ruling that he did not emerge from the party’s primary election conducted on May 18 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court held, after reviewing the evidence, that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast at the primary and was therefore the lawful winner.

Reacting to alleged comments by Uzodinma’s Deputy Chief of Staff and the APC National Vice Chairman, who reportedly described the judgment as rubbish and made disparaging remarks about the judge, Okorocha said such statements undermined the integrity of the judiciary.

He questioned the apparent inconsistency in accepting court judgments when they favour a political interest and rejecting them when they do not.

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“Whenever the judgment is for Hope, then it is good, but whenever it is against him, the judiciary is evil. I think this is very uncivilised,” he said.

Okorocha called on Uzodinma to demonstrate leadership by restraining his aides and supporters from attacking judicial officers, stressing that public officials must respect the rule of law irrespective of the outcome of court proceedings.

“I want him to caution his people to refrain from insulting judges. It doesn’t represent this nation well, and I feel particularly hurt,” he said.

He advised the governor to pursue the appeal to the Supreme Court if dissatisfied with the Federal High Court’s ruling rather than allow his supporters to engage in verbal attacks against the judiciary.

The former governor also defended the judgment, raising questions about the alleged consensus arrangement through which Uzodinma claimed to have emerged as the APC candidate.

He further pointed to discrepancies in the dates of the primary election and documents reportedly signed by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner and the APC National Chairman, insisting that the issues required clarification.

According to Okorocha, the claim that the primary election was held on May 16, rather than May 18, contradicted the evidence presented before the court.

“I don’t understand what their quarrel is all about. I want to, once more, say, let us protect the sanctity of the judiciary and let us allow justice prevail in all matters,” he said.

Okorocha challenged Uzodinma to publicly address the allegations and documentary inconsistencies raised in the judgment instead of allegedly allowing aides to attack the judge.

“If you 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 hiding and using attack dogs here and there to attack judges?” he asked.

He commended the judiciary for what he described as its commitment to upholding the truth, expressing confidence that the appellate process would resolve the dispute.

Okorocha maintained that inconsistencies and irregularities in documents certified by INEC supported the court’s decision, adding that Uzodinma and his supporters should focus on their appeal.

Meanwhile, the former governor dismissed reports that he had been arrested, describing them as false and accusing Uzodinma of being behind their circulation.