Police Detain Rochas Okorocha Over Alleged Forgery, Impersonation

The police have detained former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, in Abuja over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation linked to a disputed All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary result circulating on social media.

Okorocha was reportedly taken into custody at Reiz Continental Hotel on Monday night but was released on bail after about an hour of questioning.

The Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Aniete Iniedu, disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television, adding that the former governor had been directed to report to the Force Headquarters on Tuesday for further interrogation as investigations continue.

The police action followed Okorocha’s alleged failure to honour previous invitations by the authorities.

According to the report, the police initially invited him to appear at the Force Headquarters on September 2, but the date was rescheduled to September 8 following a request from his legal team. He reportedly failed to attend the rescheduled meeting.

The investigation stems from petitions submitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) over a document circulated on social media, which the electoral commission described as a fictitious result of the APC senatorial primary in Imo West.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, reportedly submitted separate petitions to the security agencies in letters dated October 5 and October 8, 2026, requesting an investigation into the document.

The circulating result purportedly presented Okorocha as the winner of the APC senatorial primary for Imo West, contradicting the official report submitted to INEC’s national headquarters.

According to Ibeziako, the certified report, dated May 18, 2026, identified the incumbent Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the winner of the primary and the party’s candidate for the senatorial district.

In his October 5 letter to the DSS state director, the REC said he had been alerted to the circulation of the disputed document online. He maintained that the authentic report recognised Uzodimma as the winner.

Ibeziako warned that the circulation of the alleged fraudulent document could threaten public peace and trigger a breakdown of law and order in Imo State. He subsequently reiterated the complaint in a letter to the Imo State Commissioner of Police dated October 8.

The police investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the disputed document and determine whether any offences were committed. The allegations against Okorocha have not been established in court.