Battle Royale In Imo As Uzodimma, Okorocha Fight Over Senatorial Ticket, Rainbow Coalition

By Ademu Idakwo, Abuja, and Emmanuel Mgbeahurike, Owerri

The political battle between Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, over the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Imo West Senatorial District has intensified following a Federal High Court judgment recognising Okorocha because the winner of the social gathering’s main election.

The growth has additional widened the political division between the 2 former allies, with the emergence of the Rainbow Coalition championed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, including one other dimension to the battle for political affect in Imo State forward of the 2027 normal elections.

Okorocha, who has been engaged in a chronic political rivalry with Uzodimma since succeeding him as governor in 2020, has brazenly embraced Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, declaring his intention to mobilise politicians throughout social gathering traces in Imo State to assist President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

The former governor made the declaration on Thursday throughout an look on Channels Television’s Politics Today, shortly after securing the courtroom judgment towards Uzodimma.

He counseled Wike for selling the coalition, saying it will deliver collectively members of various political events, together with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to pursue a typical political goal.

Okorocha additionally took a swipe at Uzodimma, questioning his political reputation and skill to ship Imo State and the Southeast for Tinubu in 2027.

“With my name coming on the ballot paper now, Asiwaju can be sure that his victory is guaranteed in Imo State,” he mentioned.

He added: “I commend individuals like Wike when he talks in regards to the Rainbow Coalition. As I depart right here now, I’m going again to Imo State, and we’re going to begin the Rainbow Coalition in Imo State.

“We will bring the PDP to support Tinubu to win. Some people will step down their position to make sure we achieve our common goal. Hope cannot carry Imo State. Hope cannot carry Southeast.”

The growth comes amid disagreements between Wike and Uzodimma over the coalition, with the Imo governor insisting that political mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election within the state have to be performed by means of the APC.

Uzodimma had, on October 27, declared that there was no Rainbow Coalition in Imo State whereas warning members of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement towards working with political platforms exterior the ruling social gathering.

The governor additionally threatened to withdraw marketing campaign automobiles supplied to members of the motion in the event that they participated in political actions exterior the APC construction.

Wike, nevertheless, has maintained that the Rainbow Coalition is designed to mobilise assist for Tinubu throughout social gathering traces and doesn’t require members to desert their political events.

The FCT minister has additionally been linked to political disagreements with some APC governors over the coalition and the selection of candidates for elective positions of their states.

In Imo State, the disagreement has coincided with the battle between Uzodimma and Okorocha over the Imo West senatorial ticket, which has additionally been linked to the governor’s reported ambition to turn out to be Senate President within the eleventh National Assembly.

The newest twist adopted a judgment delivered on Thursday, October 29, by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Okorocha because the social gathering’s candidate for Imo West Senatorial District within the 2027 elections.

The courtroom held that proof earlier than it established that Okorocha gained the APC senatorial main performed on May 18, 2026, and directed the social gathering to ahead his title to INEC.

The judgment successfully nullified Uzodimma’s nomination, regardless of the social gathering having declared him winner of the first with 230,464 votes towards Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.

Okorocha had challenged the result of the first, arguing that the outcome submitted to INEC didn’t mirror the precise final result of the train monitored by the electoral fee.

The former governor additionally raised questions on Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election whereas nonetheless serving as governor, citing Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits a governor from holding one other government workplace or paid employment whereas in workplace.

However, the Imo State chapter of the APC has rejected the judgment, insisting that Uzodimma stays its validly nominated candidate for the senatorial district.

The social gathering’s place was contained in an announcement issued by its State Chairman, Austin Onyedebelu, and State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, who described the ruling as troubling.

The APC management faulted the judgment over its evaluation of proof and judicial precedents, sustaining that Uzodimma emerged winner of the social gathering’s main.

It mentioned its authorized division was learning the Certified True Copy of the judgment to find out the suitable authorized intervention and subsequent plan of action, together with submitting an attraction.

The social gathering additionally referred to as on its members and supporters throughout the 12 native authorities areas of Orlu zone to stay calm and law-abiding whereas the authorized course of continues.

The present authorized battle has additionally revived reminiscences of the 2019 Imo governorship election, when Uzodimma challenged the declaration of Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as winner of the ballot.

In the March 9, 2019 election, INEC declared Ihedioha winner, whereas Uzodimma, then the APC candidate, was positioned fourth.

Uzodimma subsequently challenged the outcome as much as the Supreme Court, which, on January 14, 2020, nullified Ihedioha’s election and declared him the duly elected governor of Imo State.

The apex courtroom held that outcomes from 388 polling items had been wrongfully excluded from Uzodimma’s votes and that their inclusion gave him the required majority.

The newest Federal High Court judgment has consequently drawn consideration to the potential of one other extended authorized contest over the political management and illustration of Imo West, with the APC indicating that it might problem the ruling.

Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, has described the social gathering’s alignment with the Rainbow Coalition because the political platform able to defeating the APC within the 2027 Imo governorship election.

Anyanwu, who spoke by means of an announcement issued by his Media Adviser, Ikenna Onuoha, accused the Uzodimma administration of opposing the coalition due to its rising political affect within the state.

He described these against the Rainbow Coalition as politicians who had been apprehensive in regards to the 2027 elections, alleging that the initiative had blocked their avenues for electoral manipulation.

According to him, the APC’s rejection of the coalition throughout the unveiling of the PBAT Door-to-Door initiative in Owerri demonstrated the social gathering’s considerations in regards to the rising political alliance.

He mentioned: “APC in Imo State and its leaders are afraid of PDP and the Rainbow Coalition. Their statement during the unveiling of the Door-to-Door initiative in Owerri that Rainbow Coalition has no basis in the state is a testament that the party and its drivers are frustrated and confused.”

Anyanwu additionally accused the Uzodimma administration of failing to deal with infrastructure, healthcare, training and different growth challenges within the state.

He notably cited the situation of rural roads, the state of public hospitals, the financial system and the continuing strike by lecturers of the Imo State University, alleging that the federal government had failed to deal with the considerations of the college employees.

The PDP nationwide secretary additional accused the administration of failing to fulfil guarantees made to the voters throughout the 2023 governorship election.

He maintained that Imo residents had been dissatisfied with the APC authorities and would embrace the PDP and the Rainbow Coalition in its place political platform in 2027.

However, the Renewed Hope Foot Soldiers for Tinubu has expressed concern that the unfolding disaster may undermine the APC’s unity within the Southeast and have an effect on President Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

The group, in an announcement signed by its National President, Hon. Gbenga Owojori, mentioned the Federal High Court judgment recognising Okorocha because the duly elected APC candidate for Imo West may deepen political tensions within the area.

It argued that Uzodimma, an skilled politician who served within the Senate earlier than changing into governor, also needs to be allowed to pursue his political ambitions in accordance with the principles.

The group described the governor as a reputable contender for the Senate presidency, noting that his potential candidacy had acquired assist from political leaders throughout social gathering traces.

“The dispute over the Imo West ticket has consequences beyond the constituency. It has altered the political calculations surrounding the Senate presidency and raised concern that a leading Southeast contender could be shut out of the contest before the next Senate is constituted,” it mentioned.

The organisation additionally raised allegations by critics that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had an curiosity in stopping Uzodimma from rising as a possible rival and that Wike was concerned in efforts to pursue a authorized problem towards the governor.

It additional cited allegations by Uzodimma’s supporters that Wike had repeatedly threatened to cope with the Imo governor, expressing concern over claims that the minister might have influenced the authorized dispute.

The group, nevertheless, didn’t present proof establishing that Wike influenced the courtroom proceedings.

It urged the APC management to make sure transparency in its nomination processes and keep away from excluding any aspirant to guard the political pursuits of one other particular person.

The group warned that the dispute may have an effect on Tinubu’s second-term ambition if Southeast leaders conclude that their assist for the administration was not matched by honest political illustration.

“The President needs a united party and the confidence of political allies across the country. If the Southeast believes its support is welcome only when votes are needed, but its candidates are obstructed when power is being shared, the consequences could extend well beyond Imo State,” it mentioned.

The Renewed Hope Foot Soldiers for Tinubu referred to as on the APC management to deal with the considerations by means of clear processes and inclusive dialogue, warning that additional political marginalisation of the Southeast may deepen regional disaffection and weaken the coalition the President would want forward of the 2027 normal elections.