Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has warned his successor, Governor Hope Uzodimma, that “justice is not for sale,” hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja declared him the All Progressives Congress’ candidate for Imo West.
The ruling removed Uzodimma from the party’s ticket for the January 16, 2027, Senate election.
Okorocha made the remarks on national television after Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that he, not Uzodimma, won the APC’s May 18 primary.
The judge ordered the party to submit Okorocha’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and barred Uzodimma from presenting himself as the candidate.
“I waited for the court to decide. Today, the court has agreed with me. Justice is not for sale,” Okorocha said, adding that the judiciary had shown justice could not be bought by “the highest bidder.”
Okorocha alleged that Uzodimma’s camp submitted conflicting paperwork, including a document claiming the governor emerged by consensus on May 16, two days before the primary was held.
He said INEC had certified a judgment supporting that consensus claim, while another document placed the election on May 16.
The court found the conflicting accounts significant, particularly because vote totals were recorded for aspirants despite the claim that Uzodimma had emerged by consensus.
Justice Egwuatu held that the evidence established Okorocha as the lawful winner.
Okorocha welcomed any challenge to the ruling.
“All the courts agreed with me. But if they want to appeal, let them appeal. I’ll tackle them,” he said.
The APC’s Imo State chapter has rejected the judgment, maintaining that Uzodimma remains its candidate and saying its legal department would study the ruling before deciding its next move.
Imo State Commissioner for Information Declan Emelumba called the decision “a complete travesty of justice” and said the state would seek a reversal at the Court of Appeal.
