NEWS
“You’re A Small Boy” — Uzodimma Fires Back At Okorocha As Imo APC Senatorship Feud Deepens
A brief exchange between Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, has attracted widespread attention after the two politicians exchanged words and greetings at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally, amid their escalating political disagreement over the party’s Imo West senatorial ticket.
The encounter, which was captured in a video circulating on social media, featured an unexpected moment of political banter between the two former allies, whose relationship has remained strained over the disputed APC senatorial primary and the ongoing legal battle surrounding the party’s candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.
The drama reportedly began when Okorocha noticed that Uzodimma had not acknowledged his presence and appeared to seek the governor’s attention.
In the viral video, the former governor was heard calling out to Uzodimma, asking, “Governor Hope, didn’t you see me?”
Responding to the former governor, Uzodimma remarked, “You’re a small boy,” as the two men exchanged greetings and handshakes.
The exchange was accompanied by laughter, creating an atmosphere that appeared to suggest political humour between the two influential figures, despite the serious disagreement surrounding their political interests.
However, beyond the seemingly friendly interaction, the encounter comes against the backdrop of a major legal development that has significantly complicated Uzodimma’s political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On October 29, 2026, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja delivered a judgment removing Uzodimma as the recognised APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District and declaring Okorocha the winner of the party’s disputed primary election.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Okorocha as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
The court held that Okorocha secured the majority of lawful votes during the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
Consequently, it ordered the APC to forward the former governor’s name to INEC and restrained Uzodimma from continuing to present himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district.
The ruling followed a legal challenge instituted by Okorocha, who disputed the outcome of the primary and questioned the circumstances surrounding Uzodimma’s emergence as the party’s flagbearer.
Despite the court’s decision, the governor’s camp has rejected the judgment, maintaining that Uzodimma remains the authentic APC candidate for Imo West. The party’s leadership in the state has similarly defended the primary process, insisting that the governor secured victory through the support of the majority of party members.
The political disagreement is particularly significant because of the history between both men.
Okorocha governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 before representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2019 and 2023.
Uzodimma succeeded him as governor in January 2020 and is now seeking to represent the same senatorial district in the Senate.
Okorocha Describes Court Victory As Landmark For Democracy:
Following the October 29 judgment, Okorocha expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, describing it as a significant victory not only for himself but also for the people of Imo State and Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The former governor appreciated President Bola Tinubu, the judiciary and residents of Imo West for their support throughout the legal battle. He maintained that the ruling represented something bigger than his personal political ambition, arguing that it demonstrated the importance of democratic accountability, justice and the rule of law.
Speaking shortly after the judgment, Okorocha said: “This is a victory for the entire residents of Imo West. This is the first time the Imo people will understand the sign in President Tinubu’s cap: the broken shackle.”
He further stated: “By this judgment, Imo have joined the broken shackle. That is, the shackles on Imo state have been broken.”
The former governor also acknowledged the celebrations that followed the judgment among some residents of the senatorial district, saying their reactions reflected the significance of the development to the people.
“Rochas Is The APC In Imo State“— Former Governor Makes Strong Declaration:
The controversy took another dimension on October 30 when Okorocha appeared on Arise News’ Prime Time programme, where he provided further explanations about the circumstances that led to his decision to approach the court against Uzodimma, the APC and INEC.
During the interview, the former governor questioned the authenticity and consistency of documents submitted to establish the outcome of the disputed primary election.
He alleged that the records initially available to him indicated that he had won the exercise but that a different result was subsequently submitted to the electoral commission in support of Uzodimma’s emergence.
Okorocha explained that he obtained certified copies of documents relating to the primary from INEC on July 26, 2026, but later discovered what he described as inconsistencies between the documents in his possession and those presented in support of the governor’s candidacy.
According to him, the discrepancies formed a major part of the legal challenge that eventually resulted in the Federal High Court judgment. He also used the television interview to reaffirm his political relevance within the APC in Imo State, insisting that his influence and contributions to the party could not be overlooked.
Speaking during the programme, he declared: “Rochas is the APC in Imo State. I was a founding father of this party.”
He added: “The structure of APC in Imo State is Rochas. And I gave the name APC.”
Okorocha maintained that he had no initial reason to challenge the primary result until he discovered that his name had allegedly been displaced from the records submitted to INEC.
Meanwhile, Uzodimma’s political camp has continued to defend the process that produced the governor as the APC candidate, setting the stage for further legal and political confrontations.
Okorocha Warns Uzodimma Against Attacks On Judiciary:
The disagreement became more heated on November 4, 2026, when Okorocha publicly criticised Uzodimma over alleged comments made by members of the governor’s camp against Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the October 29 judgment.
The former governor called on Uzodimma to caution his aides and political associates against attacking the judiciary over a decision that did not favour their political interests.
Okorocha expressed concern over remarks reportedly made by the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff and an APC National Vice Chairman, who had criticised the judgment.
He questioned what he described as the inconsistency of political actors who celebrate judicial decisions when they favour them but turn around to condemn the judiciary when rulings go against their interests.
Speaking on the development, Okorocha said: “So, it means that whenever the judgment is for Hope then, it is good but, whenever it is against him then the Judiciary is evil. I think this is very uncivilised. I want him to caution his attack dogs and his people to refrain from insulting judges. It doesn’t represent this nation well, and I feel particularly hurt.”
He further advised the governor and his supporters to pursue the appropriate legal channels if they disagreed with the judgment rather than resorting to public criticism of the judge.
Pointing out that the legal battle was not necessarily over, Okorocha reminded the governor that the decision could still be challenged before the appellate courts.
“At least the Supreme Court is there,” he said.
The former governor also questioned the arguments reportedly advanced against the judgment, particularly those relating to the date of the APC primary election and the circumstances surrounding Uzodimma’s declaration as the winner.
He challenged the governor to personally address the allegations and disputed issues instead of allowing his political associates to speak on his behalf.
Okorocha said: “If you (Uzodimma) think any of the things I am saying is not true and that the judgment is not true, Hope should come to television or come and speak,”
He maintained that the judiciary must be allowed to discharge its constitutional responsibilities without intimidation, political pressure or unnecessary attacks from individuals and groups dissatisfied with its decisions.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the dispute between the two former allies continues to attract attention across Imo State and the national political landscape.
Although their latest encounter at the APC rally ended with laughter, greetings and a handshake, the underlying disagreement over the Imo West senatorial ticket remains unresolved politically, with the court judgment, the governor’s camp’s opposition and the possibility of further appeals keeping the contest alive.
For now, the political spotlight remains firmly on Uzodimma and Okorocha as the battle for the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket unfolds.