“You’re a Small Boy” — Uzodimma Tells Okorocha At APC Rally Amid Imo West Ticket Dispute
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has exchanged words with his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, during an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally, as the political dispute between the two former allies over the Imo West senatorial ticket continues to generate tension.
The brief encounter, which was captured in a video circulating on social media, attracted attention after Okorocha appeared to seek the governor’s attention when he noticed that Uzodimma had not acknowledged him.
In the video, the former governor was heard calling out to Uzodimma, asking, “Governor Hope, didn’t you see me?” The governor responded, “You’re a small boy,” as the two politicians exchanged greetings and handshakes.
The exchange was accompanied by laughter and appeared to be a moment of political banter, despite the lingering disagreement between them over who should represent the APC in the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
Court Declares Okorocha Winner Of APC Primary
The encounter comes days after the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment in favour of Okorocha in the dispute over the APC senatorial primary.
In a judgment delivered on October 29, 2026, Justice Obiora Egwuatu declared the former governor the winner of the party’s disputed primary election and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
The court held that Okorocha secured the majority of lawful votes during the primary conducted on May 18, 2026. It consequently ordered the APC to forward his name to INEC and restrained Uzodimma from continuing to present himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Okorocha, who challenged the outcome of the primary and questioned the process through which Uzodimma emerged as the party’s flagbearer.
However, the governor’s camp has rejected the judgment, maintaining that Uzodimma remains the APC candidate for Imo West. The party’s leadership in the state has also insisted that the governor won the primary.
Okorocha Describes Court Victory As Democratic Breakthrough
Reacting to the judgment on October 29, Okorocha described the decision as a victory for the people of Imo West and a significant moment for democracy and the rule of law.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the judiciary and residents of the senatorial district for their support throughout the legal battle.
“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 said.
He added, “By this judgment, Imo have joined the broken shackle. That is, the shackles on Imo State have been broken.”
The former governor maintained that the ruling went beyond his personal political ambition, describing it as an important development for democratic institutions.
Okorocha Questions Documents Behind
Uzodimma’s Candidacy Speaking on Arise News’ Prime Time programme on October 30, Okorocha explained why he approached the court over the disputed primary election.
He alleged that there were inconsistencies in the documents submitted to establish the outcome of the exercise, claiming that the records initially available to him indicated that he had won the primary.
According to him, he later discovered that another set of results had been submitted to INEC in support of Uzodimma’s emergence as the party’s candidate.
Okorocha said he obtained certified copies of documents relating to the primary from INEC on July 26, 2026, and that the discrepancies he subsequently identified formed part of the basis of his legal challenge.
He also defended his political influence within the APC in Imo State, insisting that his role in establishing the party could not be overlooked. “Rochas is the APC in Imo State. I was a founding father of this party,” he declared. He further stated, “The structure of APC in Imo State is Rochas. And I gave the name APC.”
The governor’s camp, however, has continued to defend the process that produced Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.
Okorocha Accuses Uzodimma’s Camp Of Attacking Judiciary The disagreement took another turn on November 4, when Okorocha criticised members of Uzodimma’s camp over their reported comments against the judge who delivered the October 29 judgment.
The former governor urged Uzodimma to caution his aides and supporters against attacking the judiciary over a decision that did not favour the governor.
He specifically expressed concern over remarks reportedly made by the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff and an APC National Vice Chairman, questioning what he described as the selective acceptance of judicial decisions by political actors.
“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,” Okorocha said.
He added that the governor should caution his supporters against insulting judges, insisting that such conduct did not represent the country well.
“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 stated.
Okorocha also reminded Uzodimma that the judgment could still be challenged through the appellate courts.
“At least the Supreme Court is there,” he said.
He further challenged the governor to personally address the issues surrounding the disputed primary and the court judgment rather than allowing his associates to speak on his behalf.
“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 said.
Uzodimma And Okorocha’s Political Rivalry The latest exchange adds another chapter to the political disagreement between the two politicians, who once belonged to the same political camp.
Okorocha governed Imo State between 2011 and 2019 before representing Imo West in the Senate from 2019 to 2023.
Uzodimma succeeded him as governor in 2020 and is now seeking to represent the same senatorial district in the National Assembly. Their competing ambitions have turned the APC senatorial ticket into a major political dispute in the state, with the October 29 judgment providing a fresh twist.
Although the two politicians exchanged greetings and appeared to share a light moment at the rally, the legal and political battle over the Imo West ticket remains unresolved, with the governor’s camp maintaining its position despite the Federal High Court’s ruling.
