Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has alleged that Governor Hope Uzodinma sought to emerge as the vice-presidential running mate of former Senate President Ahmad Lawan during the All Progressives Congress presidential primary in 2022.
Okorocha made the claim on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television, shortly after he was confirmed as the valid winner of the APC primary for the Imo West Senatorial District. He said Uzodinma had repeatedly pursued several political ambitions, including a place on a presidential ticket.
“Hope wants to be everything,” Okorocha said, alleging that the current Imo governor had hoped to become Lawan’s vice-presidential nominee during the party’s 2022 presidential selection process.
The former governor also criticised Uzodinma’s political stewardship and his representation of Imo State, arguing that residents were unhappy with the present administration. He accused Uzodinma of not doing enough to confront insecurity, saying violent incidents had worsened during his time in office.
Okorocha compared the situation with his own period as governor, maintaining that he had faced comparable security pressures but handled them without loss of life or bloodshed.
He urged Uzodinma not to contest the outcome of the APC senatorial primary, saying the governor should instead accept the result. “If I were him, let him forget going to appeal. Let him just accept this in good faith because he did not win an election,” Okorocha said.
Okorocha further argued that the declared result could not be reversed through what he portrayed as an effort by a single individual to influence or manipulate the electoral process. He said his public criticism was intended to confront what he considers weak governance and political conduct under Uzodinma’s administration.
