Police release ex-Imo Governor Rochas Okorocha from detention

Rochas Okorocha, a former governor of Imo State, was arrested by the police in a hotel in Abuja over charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.

Okorocha was held at the Reiz Continental Hotel and was released on bail within an hour of his arrest, based on the statement given by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Aniete Iniedu, to Channels Television.

Iniedu said the former governor had been directed to report to the Force Headquarters on Tuesday for further questioning as detectives continued their investigation into the allegations.

The police reportedly moved to arrest Okorocha after he failed to honour several official invitations.

According to the report, the police had initially invited him to the Force Headquarters on September 2. However, the date was shifted to September 8 following a request from his legal team.

The police action comes in the wake of formal petitions submitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to both the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding a document shared on social media, which the election umpire labelled a fictitious All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary result.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, petitioned the security agencies in separate letters dated October 5 and October 8, 2026.

Ibeziako requested an investigation into the circulating document, which portrays Okorocha as the winner of the APC primary for the Imo West senatorial district.

According to the REC, the online document directly contradicts the certified report submitted to INEC national headquarters, which confirms sitting Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma as the legitimate winner of the primary.

In his October 5 letter to the DSS state director, Ibeziako noted that his attention had been brought to the online document, reaffirming that the authentic report, dated May 18, 2026, officially designated Uzodimma as the elected Imo West candidate.

Warning that the spread of the fraudulent material threatened to trigger a breakdown of law and order within Imo State, Ibeziako urged immediate action by security operatives.

He reiterated the complaint in a follow-up letter to the Imo State Commissioner of Police on October 8.