Rochas Okorocha denies any arrest order against him

Former Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has denied reports that a Nigerian court issued an arrest warrant for him.

A report came out recently online claiming that a "senior magistrate’s court" in Abuja issued an arrest warrant in September against Mr Okorocha, former senator Ifeanyi Araraume, and two others.

The report said the warrant followed accusations that Mr Okorocha and Mr Araraume forged the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial results for Imo West District.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reportedly filed a complaint with the police and the State Security Service (SSS) over the alleged fake APC senatorial results. This complaint supposedly led to the arrest warrant.

But in a statement on Saturday, his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, said Mr Okorocha, a former senator for Imo West, insisted that no court gave any such order against him.

"We ask the general public to disregard the court order story. There was nothing like that. No such incident," he said.

The politician added, "Now that we have openly made this appeal, the burden is now on those behind the trending story of a court order for the arrest of Okorocha to unveil the court order or bench warrant. Let them make it public."

Mr Okorocha claimed that one of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s media aides in Imo State was the first to leak the story. Other media outlets, including a well-known national TV station, later published it.

He challenged those spreading the story to present the court order within 48 hours.

"After the 48 hours, if they are not able to produce or publish the court order, the responsibility will fall on the media that was misled into sharing the false story to do the right thing.

"And the right thing is to retract the story and apologize. That’s the most civilised thing to do," he said.

Mr Okorocha stated that, contrary to what the report claimed, neither INEC nor the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, ever wrote a petition against him or requested an investigation.

"Instead, in his petitions, he asked the police and SSS to investigate a document in circulation that wrongly portrayed Okorocha as the winner of the APC primary in Imo West Senatorial District. The petition was dated Thursday, 8 October, 2026," he said.

The politician argued that even if the petition was submitted on the same day, the SSS and the police could not have completed their investigations the next day, on 9 October, when the story surfaced.

He also pointed out an error in the disputed report, which stated that the arrest warrant was issued on 9 September 2026. In contrast, the petition the report claimed led to the court order was dated 8 October 2026.

"In other words, the court order came before the petitions and before the filing of the case.

"This is what happens when people choose to deceive or chase shadows," he said about the error in the disputed report.

Mr Okorocha warned Governor Uzodimma’s media aides against insulting him or Mr Ararume. He said that as a two-term governor and senator, he is an "outstanding" Igbo leader who deserves respect.

The former governor also stated that as the 2027 presidential election approaches, anyone who genuinely supports President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid "should desire peace, pursue peace, and ensure peace."

The APC held its senatorial primary election for Imo West District on 18 May. Mr Uzodimma was officially declared the winner, a result recognized by INEC.

But there was controversy when another document appeared, showing Mr Okorocha as the winner of the same APC primary.

The disputed document listed Mr Okorocha as the winner with 150,780 votes, while initial results showed Mr Uzodimma with 230,464 votes and Mr Okorocha with 1,098 votes.

In October this year, INEC’s Imo State Office petitioned the SSS and the Nigeria Police Force over the disputed document.

In letters dated 5 October and 8 October, Mr Ibeziako, a lawyer, called the document naming Mr Okorocha as the winner "fictitious."

INEC maintained that the official report of the 18 May primary confirmed Mr Uzodimma as the winner and that the APC submitted his name to the electoral body as their candidate.

The commission attached copies of both the official report and the disputed document to its petitions and asked the security agencies to investigate the document’s source and authenticity.

Meanwhile, in August, Mr Okorocha filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against INEC, Mr Uzodimma, and the APC.

He asked the court to determine if INEC must follow reports from its officials who monitored the 18 May senatorial primary and whether the commission was correct to recognize Mr Uzodimma as the winner.

The former governor also raised a question about Mr Uzodimma’s eligibility to run for the 2027 senatorial election while still serving as governor.

Mr Uzodimma’s second term ends in January 2028, while the next Senate is expected to be inaugurated in June 2027.

Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution states that a state governor cannot hold another executive office or paid job while in office.

But PREMIUM TIMES understands that Mr Uzodimma plans to resign as governor before his term ends to run for the Senate if he wins the general election.