WIKE DENIES ROLE IN OKOROCHA-UZODIMMA COURT BATTLE
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied any involvement in the Federal High Court judgment that removed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District and recognised former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s nominee for the 2027 election.
Wike made the clarification on Thursday, November 5, during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, describing suggestions linking him to the judgment as mischievous.
According to the minister, he neither instituted the case nor had any involvement in the legal proceedings.
“I didn’t go to court. I’m not from APC. I don’t know what the issue is,” Wike said.
The minister also addressed speculation surrounding his relationship with Okorocha, following the circulation of a video showing both politicians dancing together.
Wike explained that the footage was recorded when he hosted Okorocha while the latter was still governor of Imo State.
He insisted that he would not apologise for his friendship with the former governor, despite his political disagreement with Uzodimma.
The controversy followed an October 29 judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Uzodimma’s name with Okorocha’s as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.
Presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruled that Okorocha won the party’s senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, and was therefore entitled to the ticket.
The court also faulted the documents submitted by the APC in support of Uzodimma’s nomination, citing inconsistencies in the party’s records.
However, the judgment has been disputed by the Imo State chapter of the APC, while Uzodimma’s camp has indicated plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Wike’s comments have further brought attention to the political tension between him and Uzodimma over the proposed Rainbow Coalition, an alliance aimed at mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
