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Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop attacks on judges over a recent court ruling on the All Progressives Congress senatorial ticket for Imo West.
Okorocha challenged his successor to appeal the judgment up to the Supreme Court instead of allowing his supporters to criticise the judiciary.
The former governor spoke on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he visited the registry to sign documents relating to the ongoing legal dispute over the APC ticket.
He expressed concern over comments allegedly made by some of Uzodimma’s aides against the judge who delivered the judgment. He described the attacks as unacceptable.
Okorocha said, “I think this is very uncivilized. 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.”
He questioned why the governor’s supporters were attacking the judiciary instead of allowing the legal process to continue.
“Can’t he wait patiently and try to get the appeal through? At least the Supreme Court is there,” he said.
Okorocha also challenged Uzodimma to respond publicly to his allegations rather than allegedly using supporters to attack judicial officers.
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.”
The former governor further accused Uzodimma of allegedly presenting forged documents during the court proceedings. He expressed confidence that the judgment would stand if challenged on appeal.
Okorocha also commended the judiciary for handling the dispute, saying he believed justice would prevail.
Court nullifies Uzodimma’s APC ticket
The dispute followed an October 29 judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified Uzodimma’s emergence as the APC candidate for the Imo West Senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that evidence before the court showed Uzodimma did not emerge as the valid winner of the party’s primary held on May 18 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court held that Okorocha secured the highest number of votes in the primary and was therefore entitled to the party’s ticket.
It directed INEC to recognise Okorocha and publish his name as the APC’s authentic candidate for the election.
The court also barred Uzodimma from presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial contest.
