Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop attacking judges over the recent court judgment on the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Imo West.
Okorocha challenged his successor to pursue an appeal up to the Supreme Court rather than allowing his supporters to criticise the judiciary over the ruling.
The former governor made the remarks 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, describing 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 take its course.
“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 publicly address 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, expressing confidence that the judgment would stand on appeal.
He also commended the judiciary for its handling of the dispute, saying he believed justice would prevail.
The controversy 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 that Uzodimma did not emerge as the valid winner of the party’s primary conducted on May 18 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court held that Okorocha secured the highest number of votes during the primary and was therefore entitled to the party’s ticket.
It consequently 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.
