Okorocha tackles Uzodimma over attacks on judge

A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has asked his successor, Hope Uzodimma, to caution his aides against attacking the judiciary over a Federal High Court judgment which nullified his emergence as the All Progressives Congress candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.

Okorocha urged Uzodimma to pursue his appeal up to the Supreme Court, rather than allow his supporters to denigrate the judiciary 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 spoke on Tuesday on the Federal High Court premises in Abuja, where he said he had gone to sign some documents at the court’s registry in connection with the appeal filed by Uzodimma against the judgment.

Reacting to comments credited to the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff and the APC National Vice Chairman, who reportedly described the judgment as rubbish and procured, Okorocha condemned what he described as attempts to intimidate the judiciary.

He said, “I listened to the news yesterday, and it was so horrible, so terrible, that Governor Hope Uzodimma’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.”

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

He said, “I was made to understand that he has called all his aides, commissioners and everybody to go on the attack. You see, they are doing all that. Can’t he wait patiently and try to get the appeal through? At least the Supreme Court is there.”

Questioning the governor’s objections to the judgment, Okorocha argued that the documentary evidence before the court contained inconsistencies concerning the date and mode of the APC primary election.

He said, “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 held on the 16th for Hope, when the actual date is the 18th?

“Or that he would have said that Hope emerged by consensus, which is not true? Or the paper signed only by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Imo State and sent to the National Chairman, saying that it was by consensus and that Hope’s election took place two days before the time?”

The former governor maintained that the court’s decision should be respected, adding that Uzodimma had benefited from favourable court judgments in the past.

“I don’t understand what their quarrel is all about. I want to say once more: let us protect the sanctity of the Judiciary and let us allow justice to prevail in all matters. Hope has been a very big and unusual beneficiary of the court, and I think he should have respected it,” he said.

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Challenging Uzodimma to publicly fault his claims rather than allegedly using his aides to attack judges, Okorocha said the governor should personally address the issues raised by the judgment.

He said, “If you (Uzodimma) think any of the things I am saying is not true and that the judgment is not true, Hope should come on 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.”

Okorocha also accused the governor of allegedly presenting forged documents during the proceedings, arguing that inconsistencies in the materials certified by INEC made the court’s decision inevitable.

He said, “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 a judge who wants to do wrong cannot do wrong in this case.”

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. Whatever you might say, they’re still very good. And I believe that the right thing should be done,” he said.

The dispute followed 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 INEC as its candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.