Imo West: APC Vice Chairman Accuses Okorocha Of Forging Primary Result
By Felix Oti, Awka
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, has backed the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over a forged document purportedly presenting former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, as the winner of the APC senatorial primary election for Imo West Senatorial District.
Arodiogbu’s position follows petitions submitted by INEC’s Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka C. Ibeziako, Esq., to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, requesting an investigation into the circulation of what the Commission described as a fictitious primary election result.
In two letters dated October 5 and October 8, 2026, respectively, the Commission reportedly disowned the forged document circulating on social media and maintained that the authentic report submitted to its National Headquarters identified Senator Goodhope Odidika Uzodimma as the winner of the APC Imo West senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
In the petition to the security agencies, the Resident Electoral Commissioner stated that the document circulating on social media contradicted the report signed and forwarded to INEC’s National Headquarters.
The Commissioner wrote that the authentic report named Senator Goodhope Odidika Uzodimma as the duly elected candidate, while the disputed document allegedly presented Okorocha as the winner.
INEC attached the authentic report as Annexure A and the forged document as Annexure B to facilitate investigation and establish the differences between the two documents.
The Commission also urged the security agencies to investigate the origin and circulation of the forged report, warning that the development could threaten public peace and security in Imo State.
The first petition, referenced INEC/IMS/S.M/IX/48, was addressed to the State Director of the DSS on October 5, 2026, while the second, referenced INEC/IMS/S.M/IX/49, was sent to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, on October 8, 2026.
Arodiogbu reaffirmed his support for the party’s established primary election procedures and the need to investigate any document that conflicts with the officially recognized outcome.
The APC National Vice Chairman maintained that the result recognized by the party was the one submitted by the primary election committee, affirmed by the Congress Committee, upheld by the Appeal Committee, and endorsed by the party’s National Working Committee.
He dismissed claims based on the forged document and called for appropriate legal scrutiny to establish its origin, authenticity and the circumstances surrounding its circulation.
Arodiogbu further alleged that Okorocha did not participate in the APC primary election conducted by the party.
He called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the allegation and take appropriate action in accordance with the law if evidence of forgery or other criminal conduct is established.
