Chief Enyinna Onuegbu, the deputy chief of staff to Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, said on Friday that former governor Rochas Okorocha never participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for the Imo West senatorial district, a contest the Federal High Court, Abuja later ruled he had won.
What did Onuegbu claim about Okorocha’s involvement?
Onuegbu told Arise News that “Imo APC people never saw Okorocha as an aspirant; he was not physically present at any stage of the primaries, nor at any briefing of delegates or stakeholders.” He asked, “At what stage did he consult the party or provide evidence of winning at ward, LGA or state level?”
Which bodies rejected Okorocha’s documents?
He noted that both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC committee that organised the primary dismissed the paperwork Okorocha relied on, labeling them “forgeries, fictitious and totally fabricated.”
Why does Onuegbu say the court erred?
According to him, the court “chose to rely on what the applicant filed without addressing the conflicting documentation presented by both parties.” He argued that when documentary evidence clashes, “the law requires the court to resolve the conflict by oral evidence of witnesses” and cited a Supreme Court ruling that for alleged forgeries, parties must be put to the witness box.
Did Okorocha follow party grievance procedures?
Onuegbu asserted that Okorocha bypassed the APC’s internal complaint mechanisms. “The party provides a primary panel and an Appeal Committee to handle disputes. He did not exhaust those avenues; instead he waited in Abuja and filed his case after the statutory 14‑day period,” he explained.
What about the alleged victory celebrations?
He questioned why “a person who supposedly won did not celebrate in his community, did not appear at the party office to thank members, and produced no video or photographs of a victory rally,” suggesting something was amiss.
Is the judgment final?
Onuegbu clarified that the Federal High Court’s decision is only “the first rung of the ladder.” He said his side will appeal, arguing the judgment is “illegal, not based on law or facts,” and that the appeal court will test the lower court’s reasoning.
The dispute continues to polarise Imo politics as both camps prepare for further legal battles.