Hope Uzodinma Is South-East’s Only Problem’ — Okorocha

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has described his successor, Hope Uzodinma, as the major problem facing the South-East, accusing him of prioritising political ambition over governance.

Okorocha made the allegation during an interview on Arise Prime Time, where he criticised Uzodinma’s alleged pursuit of political power and accused him of engaging in multiple political roles at the expense of the people.

“There is only one problem in the South-East, and that is Hope,” the former governor said.

He accused Uzodinma of allowing his ambition to become governor, senator, vice-chairman and chairman of various political bodies to overshadow his responsibilities to the people of Imo State.

“Sit down, govern for God. Sit down and govern your people,” Okorocha said.

He further accused Uzodinma of being excessively aggressive in his pursuit of power, alleging that the governor would prioritise retaining political control over the welfare of the people.

Okorocha also recounted alleged incidents of violence and intimidation, claiming that he had been targeted during an incident at a hotel belonging to his wife.

According to him, armed men allegedly opened fire during the incident, while his in-law sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and subsequently spent eight months in the United States receiving treatment.

The former governor also alleged that another political figure, whom he identified as a former electoral rival of Uzodinma, was handcuffed and taken away after attending church.

He further claimed that several incidents of violence had occurred in Imo State under the current administration.

However, the allegations could not be independently verified from the interview excerpt provided.

Okorocha’s comments represent a fresh escalation in the political disagreement between the two former and incumbent governors, with the former governor questioning Uzodinma’s leadership and approach to political power.

LEADERSHIP had previously reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the Imo West senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections and replaced him with Rochas Okorocha.

In a judgement on Thursday, Judge Obiora Egwuatu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of Mr Okorocha, a former governor of the state who was previously elected to represent the district in the Nigerian Senate, as the validly nominated candidate of the APC for the upcoming senatorial election.

The judge directed Mr Uzodimma, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, a peer-review group of APC governors, to stop parading himself as the APC candidate for the 16 January 2027 election.

The judge likewise ordered the APC to forward Mr Okorocha’s name as candidate of the party for the 2027 general elections for Imo West Senatorial District.