Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said he will form a cross-parry coalition involving members of the Peoples Democratic Party and other political groups to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hours after the Federal High Court declared him winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary, Okorocha said his presence on the ballot would guarantee Tinubu’s victory in the state.
He described support for Tinubu as a strategic political alliance for the South-East, urging Igbo voters to prioritise political calculations over emotions, as he also offered to work with other South-East governors to mobilise support for the President.
“With my name coming on the ballot paper now, Asiwaju can be sure that his victory is guaranteed in Imo State”, he said.
He added, “As I live here now, we’re going to start Rainbow Coalition. We’re going to bring PDP, all of them, to support Tinubu to win, and some people will step down from their positions to just make sure we achieve one common goal”.
Okorocha criticised his successor, Governor Hope Uzodimma, describing him as an opportunist and arguing that he lacked the political influence to lead Imo and wider Southeast.
“Hope cannot carry Imo, cannot carry Southeast. It’s in Abuja, in the Villa here Hope exists. He doesn’t exist down here, and I challenge him. Let’s move out and call the people and see what happen”, he said.
The former Governor also questioned Uzodimma’s decision to contest the 2027 Imo West senatorial election while his tenure as governor is expected to end in January 2028.
He argued that the governor could not hold two paid public offices simultaneously, citing Section 183 of the Constitution.
“The point we are making is that Hope Uzodimma has a tenure of eight years to elapse in January 2028. Hope is contesting for Senate, which starts in May 2027. What that means is that Hope Uzodimma is holding a paid job and seeking another paid job”, he said.
The former governor, however, said the senatorial dispute was primarily about documents submitted by the parties involved in the APC primary.
Okorocha’s claim comes amid an ongoing dispute with Governor Hope Uzodimma over the APC ticket. Although the court ruled in Okorocha’s favour, the Imo APC has rejected the judgment, while the state government says it will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
-9News Nigeria.
