Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has stated that 90% of Nigerian politicians would not remain in office if the country practised genuine democracy. He made this assertion during an interview with Arise News on Thursday. Okorocha argued that many politicians emerged through imposed candidacies rather than the free choice of voters. This claim comes as Okorocha reacts to a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja recognising him as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West.
Okorocha made the claim while discussing the Federal High Court judgment that recognised him as the winner of the APC senatorial primary for Imo West. The judgment is ahead of the 2027 general elections. Okorocha expressed his joy not just about being declared the winner but also about the fact that several misinformation claims were corrected in the news media. He stated that the evidence supporting his case was clear and that the facts were too glaring.
The dispute centres on conflicting records of the APC primary. According to some figures cited during the interview, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma garnered 230,464 votes, while Okorocha received 1,098 votes. However, another document reportedly showed Okorocha with 150,780 votes. Okorocha explained that he obtained certified documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 22, 2026.
Okorocha 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 has stated that he will appeal the judgment. Okorocha maintained 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.
Okorocha accused political power brokers of imposing candidates on voters, arguing that this practice undermined the people’s right to choose their leaders. He stated that most of the politicians in office were not truly the choice of the people but rather opportunists who found their way into power. Okorocha insisted that his concern was about the credibility of party primaries and Nigeria’s electoral process.
The court judgment has raised wider concerns about the credibility of party primaries and Nigeria’s electoral process. Okorocha said that if democracy was practised the way it should be, 90% of people holding office in Nigeria could not hold office. He emphasised that the practice of imposing candidates on voters was a major issue that needed to be addressed.
Okorocha’s statement has sparked a wider conversation about the state of democracy in Nigeria. The former governor’s claim that 90% of politicians would not survive a true democracy has raised questions about the nature of politics in the country. As Uzodimma prepares to appeal the judgment, the issue is likely to continue to be a topic of discussion in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
Key points
- Okorocha claims 90% of Nigerian politicians would not remain in office if the country practised genuine democracy.
- The dispute centres on conflicting records of the APC primary.
- Okorocha accused political power brokers of imposing candidates on voters.
