Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he influenced the court ruling recognising former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the All Progressives Congress candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.
Wike, who described the allegations as mischievous, said he had no involvement in the suit that resulted in the Federal High Court judgment and was not a member of the APC.
Speaking during a live media chat on Thursday, the minister said, “I didn’t go to court. I’m not in APC. I don’t know what the issue is.”
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The controversy followed a judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on October 29, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Okorocha as the APC candidate for the senatorial district and remove Governor Hope Uzodimma’s name.
The court held that Okorocha won the party’s primary conducted on May 18, 2026, after securing the majority of lawful votes cast. The former governor had challenged INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the winner of the exercise.
The ruling has been disputed by the Imo APC, while Uzodimma has indicated plans to appeal.
Wike’s name was drawn into the controversy amid his political disagreement with Uzodimma over the proposed Rainbow Coalition, an arrangement to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The minister also dismissed suggestions that a video of him dancing with Okorocha showed evidence of a political arrangement behind the judgment. He explained that the footage was recorded when he hosted Okorocha while the latter was still governor of Imo State.
“Now they showed the video where Rochas and I danced when I hosted him when he was governor. So that was that dance,” he said.
Wike also criticised a reported warning by Uzodimma against supporters of the Rainbow Coalition in Imo State, describing the alleged threat to seize their vehicles as “very, very uncivilised”.
The disagreement between both politicians centres partly on how PDP members should participate in the 2027 elections while supporting Tinubu's re-election bid.
Wike has maintained that PDP members can support Tinubu for president while backing candidates of their party in governorship and legislative elections.
Okorocha had also praised the coalition proposal during an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on October 29, announcing plans to establish a similar alliance in Imo State.
Defending the arrangement on Thursday, Wike said political allies did not have to support the same candidates across all levels of an election.
He added that securing Tinubu’s victory remained his priority.
“In any case, we are supporting Mr President, for Christ’s sake. Your business is to make sure, first things is, Mr President wins the election,” he said.
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