Okorocha tells Uzodimma to control his aides over court comments

A former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has asked his successor, Hope Uzodimma, to warn his aides against attacking judges. This follows a Federal High Court judgment that canceled Uzodimma's emergence as the All Progressives Congress candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.

Okorocha advised Uzodimma to take his appeal to the Supreme Court instead of letting his supporters insult the judiciary. The court ruling on October 29 was given by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who recognized Okorocha as the winner of the party's May 18 senatorial primary.

The former governor made his comments on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He was there to sign some documents related to the appeal filed by Uzodimma against the court's judgment.

Okorocha responded to remarks from the governor's Deputy Chief of Staff and the APC National Vice Chairman. They reportedly called the judgment rubbish and claimed it was bought. Okorocha condemned these comments as attempts to intimidate the judiciary.

He stated, "I listened to the news yesterday and it was so horrible, so terrible, that Governor Hope’s aides, namely his Deputy Chief of Staff and the National Vice Chairman of the APC, could berate a judge, insult a judge.

“To use his words, he said the judgment was rubbish and procured, and that the judge should go and look at himself in the mirror. I think that is terrible. And the other one, who is called his Deputy Chief of Staff and whose wife is even a judge, could be insulting the judge because of a judgment.

“So, it means that whenever the judgment is for Hope, it is good, but whenever it is against him, the judiciary is evil.

“I think this is very uncivilised. 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.”

The former governor insisted that the court's decision should be respected. He added that Uzodimma had benefited from positive court judgments in the past.

Despite this, he expressed faith in the Nigerian judiciary, saying he believed the right thing would be done.

The dispute arose after the Federal High Court's ruling on October 29, which overturned Uzodimma's emergence as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.

Justice Egwuatu ruled that Okorocha received the highest number of lawful votes in the party's May 18 primary and was entitled to the ticket.

The court then ordered the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.