Supporters of former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, across Orlu Senatorial District have reportedly begun celebrating following the circulation of an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) report indicating that Okorocha secured the highest number of votes in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Imo West.
Some of the supporters who spoke anonymously to Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper said they had known from the outset that Okorocha won the primary, claiming that they had mobilised massively in his support.
They, however, said they were shocked when Governor Hope Uzodinma was subsequently announced as the winner of the primary.
One of the supporters, who identified himself as Chief Emeka Anusionwu, expressed optimism that the courts would eventually do justice to the matter by declaring Okorocha the rightful winner of the primary.
“We knew that Okorocha won the election because we mobilised massively for him. We were therefore surprised when Governor Uzodinma was declared the winner,” he said.
However, an APC executive and ardent supporter of Governor Uzodinma said he would not join issues with Okorocha and his supporters, whom he described as “drowning men,” insisting that Uzodinma won the primary.
According to him, “Uzodinma has performed creditably, and Orlu people, who are very proud of his achievements, will reward him with their votes at the appropriate time.”
Recall that a Certified True Copy (CTC) of an INEC report obtained by the Progressive Lawyers Forum reportedly shows that Okorocha secured the highest number of votes in the APC senatorial primary for Imo West.
The report also reportedly indicates that Senator Rochas Okorocha, Alexander Mbata and Patrick Chiwuba Ndubueze recorded the highest votes in the APC senatorial primaries conducted across the three senatorial districts of Imo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development was contained in an Election and Party Monitoring Department report on the Imo State APC Senatorial Primary Elections held on May 18, 2026, which was reportedly obtained in Abuja.
According to the report, the primaries were conducted simultaneously across Imo East, Imo West and Imo North Senatorial Districts, beginning at about 2:30 p.m.
The electoral exercise was monitored by INEC officials and organised by a seven-member committee headed by retired Rear Admiral Williams Kayode.
The report listed Alexander Mbata as the candidate for Imo East, with 121,680 votes; Okorocha as the candidate for Imo West, with 150,780 votes; and Patrick Chiwuba Ndubueze as the candidate for Imo North, with 108,826 votes.
INEC reportedly stated that the mode of election adopted by the APC for the senatorial primaries was direct primary.
The commission further stated that its independent monitoring established that the three aspirants recorded the highest number of valid votes cast in their respective senatorial districts.
“From our independent monitoring of the primary, Mbata Alexander in Imo East Senatorial Zone, Sen. Ethelbert Rochas Okorocha in Imo West Senatorial Zone, and Ndubueze Patrick Chiwuba in Imo North Senatorial Zone scored the highest number of valid votes cast in their respective Senatorial Zones,” the report stated.
The report, dated June 16, 2026, was signed by Gyang D. Dung, Team Lead, Imo Monitoring Team, and was reportedly certified as a true copy by the relevant INEC office in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Lawyers Forum, in a statement, described the development as significant to the people of Orlu Senatorial District, saying it could pave the way for the emergence of Rochas Okorocha as the senatorial candidate they wanted.
The forum described the INEC report as an important document that should guide the determination of who legitimately emerged from the APC senatorial primary in Imo West.
According to the forum, the certified report provides an official record of the primary election as monitored by INEC and therefore raises questions about any subsequent claim that another aspirant emerged as the party’s candidate.
