Follow Us on Google
Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has claimed that 90 per cent of Nigerian politicians would not remain in office if the country practised genuine democracy, arguing that many emerged through imposed candidacies rather than the free choice of voters.
Okorocha made the assertion during an interview with Arise News on Thursday while reacting to the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja recognising him as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“If democracy is practised the way it should be practised, 90 per cent of people holding office in Nigeria cannot hold office,” he said.
The former governor accused political power brokers of imposing candidates on voters, arguing that the practice undermined the people’s right to choose their leaders.
“Most of them are not truly the choice of the people. These are people who are imposed, opportunists, who find their way,” he said.
Okorocha maintained that the court judgment went beyond his personal political contest with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, saying it raised wider concerns about the credibility of party primaries and Nigeria’s electoral process.
“My joy is not on the basis that I was declared a winner, but for the fact that so many misinformation [claims] were paraded in the news media,” he said.
He added that the evidence supporting his case was clear, declaring, “The facts are too glaring.”
The dispute centres on conflicting records of the APC primary. Figures cited during the interview credited Uzodimma with 230,464 votes and Okorocha with 1,098 votes, while another document reportedly showed Okorocha with 150,780 votes.
Explaining his position, Okorocha said he obtained certified documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 22, 2026. He questioned the emergence of another document dated August 22, which he attributed to Uzodimma.
The court ruled in Okorocha’s favour and directed INEC to recognise him as the winner of the primary. Uzodimma, however, has said he will appeal the judgment.
Okorocha insisted that his concern was not simply about securing the senatorial ticket but about ensuring that the people’s choices were respected in the democratic process.
“It’s about the people,” he said.
