By Ayodele Oni
The last is yet to be heard about the struggle for the Imo West Senatorial ticket as Governor Hope Uzodimma, has reacted to the Federal High Court, (FHC) judgement recognizing his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District, vowing to appeal against the ruling.
Uzodimma described Okorocha’s victory as a temporary development, insisting that the judgement would be overturned at the Court of Appeal.
The governor’s position was made known by his Chief Press Secretary, Oguike Nwachuku, who faulted the court’s decision and expressed confidence that the appeal court would rule in their favour.
Nwachuku’s reaction followed Okorocha’s appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time programme, where the former governor spoke about the ongoing disagreement over the APC senatorial ticket.
During the interview, Okorocha maintained that he remained a major political force in Imo State and accused Uzodimma of using questionable documents to secure the party’s ticket.
He also questioned the credibility of the primary election documents submitted in support of the governor’s emergence as the APC candidate.
However, Uzodimma’s spokesperson dismissed the allegations, maintaining that the governor legitimately won the party’s primary election.
According to Nwachuku, the APC adopted a consensus arrangement in Imo East and Imo North Senatorial Districts after political stakeholders in the areas agreed on their preferred candidates.
He explained that Prince Alex Mbata emerged through consensus in Imo East, while Senator Patrick Ndubueze secured the ticket for Imo North.
However, he said the situation was different in Imo West because Okorocha rejected the consensus arrangement and decided to contest against Uzodimma.
Nwachuku claimed that the governor defeated his predecessor by a wide margin, securing 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes across the 12 local government areas in the senatorial district.
He further stated that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the exercise, while the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee supervised the process.
The committee was reportedly led by its chairman and returning officer, retired Rear Admiral Williams Kayoda.
The governor’s spokesperson accused Okorocha of working against the interest of the APC by refusing to accept the outcome of the primary election.
He also rejected the former governor’s claim that he controlled the party’s political structure in Imo State.
Nwachuku argued that the APC constitution recognises sitting governors as leaders of the party in their respective states, while the president serves as the party’s national leader.
He maintained that President Bola Tinubu remained the leader of the APC at the national level, while Uzodimma controlled the party’s structure in Imo State.
The spokesperson also accused Okorocha of attempting to treat the party’s structure as his personal property rather than respecting its leadership.
He went further to criticize Okorocha’s eight-year administration in Imo State, alleging that his government operated like a family affair and questioned his claim to continued political relevance in the state.
Nwachuku also dismissed Okorocha’s public celebration of the court judgement, insisting that the former governor’s victory would not stand when the appeal was considered.
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