Former Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s electoral politics, claiming that 90 per cent of current public office holders would lose their positions if the country practiced genuine democracy.
Speaking to journalists outside the Federal High Court in Abuja following a landmark legal ruling on Friday, October 30, 2026, Okorocha argued that a vast majority of elected officials owe their positions to party patronage and internal candidate imposition rather than the mandate of the electorate.
Okorocha voiced his comments shortly after the court nullified the emergence of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District primary, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Okorocha as the winner of the party primary process.
Reacting to the judgment, Okorocha insisted that his primary concern extended beyond his personal political aspirations to the wider integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system. ”If democracy is practised the way it should be practised, 90% of people holding office in Nigeria cannot hold office,” Okorocha stated.
“Most of them are not truly the choice of people. These are people who are imposed, opportunists, who find their way.” He further noted that the judicial decision highlights persistent flaws in party primary operations across political parties, where party elites frequently substitute voters’ mandates with preferred loyalists.
In response to the High Court ruling, representatives for Governor Hope Uzodimma confirmed plans to appeal the verdict immediately, maintaining that the governor’s candidacy followed all established internal party guidelines and legal standards.
Spokespersons for the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership expressed intent to review the court order before issuing an official stance, while emphasizing the party’s commitment to judicial compliance and internal dispute resolution protocols.
Despite the pending appeal, Okorocha maintained that democratic reforms must prioritise voter autonomy over administrative manipulation. ”It’s about the people,” Okorocha added, calling for systemic election reforms to guarantee that popular choice dictates leadership across all levels of government.
