The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Hope Uzodimma

  • Okorocha’s Camp Denies Arrest, Challenges Imo Government Over Warrant

    Okorocha’s Camp Denies Arrest, Challenges Imo Government Over Warrant

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The camp of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has denied that he was arrested by the police, challenging the state government to provide evidence supporting the warrant it allegedly cited.

    Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, described reports of the former governor’s arrest as false, insisting that he was neither arrested nor granted bail.

    The Nigeria Police Force, however, confirmed that Okorocha was arrested on Monday night at REIZ Continental Hotel in Abuja over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The police said he was released on bail after about an hour of interrogation and directed to return to the Force Headquarters for further questioning.

    In a statement titled “Arrest Warrant: We’ve Been Vindicated. Falsehood Has Never Prevailed Over Truth. Truth Is Sacred,” Onwuemeodo questioned the validity of the court order the Imo State Government relied on in defending the reported arrest.

    The government, through its Commissioner for Information, Mbadiwe Emelumba, had issued a statement on Monday, October 12, in response to Okorocha’s demand that it produce the court order.

    According to Onwuemeodo, the government attached an order dated September 9, 2026, but failed to acknowledge that the same court had vacated it five days later.

    He argued that the order could not have provided a valid basis for any action against the former governor in October.

    “The same court order was vacated by the same court on September 14, 2026,” he said, questioning why the state government continued to rely on it.

    Onwuemeodo also said Emelumba had clarified that the order was unrelated to petitions submitted on October 8 by the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako.

    The former governor’s aide demanded an apology from the state government, accusing it of misleading Nigerians and damaging the state’s image.

    He also challenged the police to substantiate their account of the arrest, maintaining that no arrest, bail or statement-taking had occurred.

    “Their latest story that Owelle Okorocha was arrested and released after one hour is also not true. And we equally stand to be contradicted,” he said.

    The police, however, maintained that Okorocha was arrested over the allegations and that investigations were continuing. The full details of the allegations have not been publicly disclosed.

    The police reportedly invited the former governor for questioning on September 2, before rescheduling the appointment to September 8 at the request of his lawyers. He was said to have failed to honour the rescheduled invitation.

    Onwuemeodo further accused the state government of making public statements capable of influencing a matter already before the courts. He said Okorocha had remained silent to avoid comments that could be considered an attempt to influence judicial proceedings.

    The disagreement comes amid a political dispute between Okorocha and Governor Hope Uzodimma over the All Progressives Congress primary for the Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election.

    Uzodimma was declared the winner of the primary and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission. INEC said the official results showed that the governor secured 230,464 votes, while Okorocha polled 1,098.

    However, another document circulated claiming that Okorocha won the primary with 150,780 votes. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ibeziako, subsequently petitioned the police and the Department of State Services to investigate the disputed document, which the commission described as fictitious.

    The allegations arising from the disputed results remain subject to investigation and do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability.

    Okorocha has also filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging the outcome of the primary and INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.

    Among other issues, the former governor has asked the court to examine the disputed results and relevant constitutional provisions concerning Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while serving as governor.

    His camp maintains that the dispute should be resolved through the judicial process, while the police investigation into the allegations continues.

  • 2027: APC Governors Reject Alliance With Wike’s Rainbow Coalition

    2027: APC Governors Reject Alliance With Wike’s Rainbow Coalition

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have ruled out any political alliance with individuals or opposition groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The governors said they remained committed to the APC and would support only candidates sponsored by the ruling party in the forthcoming elections.

    Chairman of the APC Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, disclosed this after the forum’s meeting in Abuja on Monday night.

    Uzodimma said the governors had not entered into any formal agreement with any individual or opposition party ahead of the elections.

    The position comes amid the growing activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Peoples Democratic Party leader, Nyesom Wike, who has been promoting a political movement known as the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State.

    Wike, who is serving in the APC-led Federal Government, has declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 while maintaining that his Rainbow Coalition is separate from the APC.

    The minister has also been at odds with some APC governors over political matters.

    During a recent media chat, Wike alleged that Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, were among those behind the political challenges he had faced.

    He attributed the alleged opposition to the growing influence of his Rainbow Coalition, which he said was attracting politicians interested in contesting against some APC governorship and senatorial candidates in 2027.

    However, the APC governors, in a communique read by Uzodimma after their meeting, said they would not support any political arrangement that could undermine the party or its candidates.

    The forum said its campaign efforts would be directed exclusively towards APC candidates at all levels.

    Uzodimma said, “The APC Governors Forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels.”

    He added that the governors would not support candidates outside the APC.

    “In other words, the forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate because our candidates who are contesting the election are being sponsored by our party,” he said.

    According to the Imo governor, the forum’s campaign strategy would remain aligned with President Tinubu and the leadership of the APC.

    “The governors’ campaign commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates. All levels of the party campaign architecture will align with the expectations of Mr President and the strategic objectives of the party,” he said.

    The declaration effectively draws a line between the APC governors’ official political activities and Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, despite the minister’s support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

    The 2027 elections are expected to produce further realignments as political parties and influential politicians intensify efforts to consolidate support ahead of the polls.

  • Obasanjo commends Gov Uzodimma for developmental strides in Imo state

     

    Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has lauded Governor Hope Uzodimma on the laudable developmental strides that Imo State is witnessing under his administration.

    The past President paid the compliment during his 85th birthday celebration, hosted by the first family of Imo State at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Imo State.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the celebration, the former President called for improved engagements with genuinely frustrated militant members of society to de-escalate conflict and promote peace.

     

    (Vanguard)

  • Hope Uzodimma plans Imo Stakeholders Meeting

     

    All is set for the Imo State Stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 4th January 2022 at Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri as all relevant stakeholders have been invited and Imolites expectant of the outcome.

     

    In running all-inclusive governance, His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma had upon resumption of office, announced a routine Stakeholders Meeting with Ndi Imo across the board.

     

    The meeting which is in series presents an opportunity for the Governor of Imo State to account to Ndi Imo the activities and direction of the Government in fast-tracking development to the State and as well, a discussion on the recent events in the State.

     

    The Governor has kept to his pledge of running an all-inclusive Government with transparency to the people. The meeting usually held periodically has greatly contributed to the policies and programs of the administration as reactions from the participants are usually taken into account afterwards by the Government.

     

    This Edition is filled with intrigues and suspense especially with the hint from His Excellency on the announcement, on that day, of the sponsors of insecurity in the State and subsequent prosecution. As preparations remain on top gear, Imolites home and abroad remain glued to the commencement of the event for revelations.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.vanguardngr.com

  • I Sent Military to Prevent a Repeat of the End SARS Protest and not to Crush my People – Uzodimma

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma on Tuesday defended the airstrike in Orlu, saying it was not meant to “crush” his people but to prevent a repeat of last October’s #EndSARS protests in the state.

     

    Uzodimma explained that protests and the escalation of criminal activities that trailed the #EndSARS protests necessitated his invitation of the military.

     

    He particularly said the situation within Orlu axis had gone beyond what could be handled locally.

     

    The governor spoke with reporters after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

     

    It was however unclear if the President summoned Uzodimma over his feud with the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial District, Owelle Rochas Okorocha as well as the military operation in Orlu or not.

     

    Read Also: Senator worried over hovering helicopters in Orlu

    Nigerian Air Force jets had last week raided parts of Orlu suspected to be hideouts of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the security arm of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

     

    Although IPOB denied the arrest of any of members in Orlu, The Nation gathered that nine ESN operatives were remanded last week at a correctional centre by Owerri Magistrate Court 16 for murder.

     

    Uzodimma, who fielded questions from the State House reporters said: “Well, the issue of bringing the military to Imo state is simple. You recall, during the #EndSARS protests that a lot of properties were damaged in Imo State; police stations were burnt down, soldiers were killed and their rifles removed from them.

     

    “And immediately after the #EndSARS, we thought it was over. Then, issues of kidnapping came. You know a Catholic bishop was kidnapped and killed. And these militants came out and began to shoot. We’ve lost lives, market women were killed, old women were raped in Orlu area and they visited this serious terror on the citizenry.

     

    “I came here (Presidential Villa), pleaded with Mr. President for his support and he sent additional police support. The military also came in.

     

    “It was on my invitation that the military came. And I did that because I know the situation was beyond the local arrangement. We needed help and it was given to us.

     

    “I speak to you, the situation has come down to normal. People are now going about their businesses. And those caught will soon be charged to court. And all those military riffles, AK 47 and so on were recovered by the people that came.

     

    “As a government, it is our responsibility to protect lives. We had security challenges and we invited the military.”

     

    The governor also rejected insinuations that he used the military to pound his people, unlike some of his colleagues negotiating with bandits to solve their security problem.

     

    According to him, he did not use the military to ‘crush’ people in Orlu, but to restore normalcy.

     

    He added: “It is not about crushing anybody and those that came didn’t do any crushing. Those that came through their intelligence identified where these people were and I can tell you, all the people arrested, all the rifles recovered are intact. The people are under interrogation, not even one, not even one soldier, or one of those militants died in the process.

     

    Let nobody politicise it. I have a responsibility to protect the lives of my people.”

     

    The governor said he informed “Mr. President that our government was already making progress.

     

    “Some people may be negotiating with Boko Haram but God knows if I have the opportunity to see any man who is taking lives, I will confront the person head-on. That is why we are government.”

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonline