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Police arrested Okorocha at REIZ Continental Hotel in Abuja on Monday night over an ongoing criminal investigation.
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The probe centres on alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation arising from the disputed APC Imo West senatorial primary.
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His arrest followed alleged failure to honour police invitations and reports of a bench warrant issued by an Abuja magistrate court.
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Okorocha’s media office had denied the existence of any arrest warrant, while INEC sought investigation of a disputed primary result document.
October 13, (THEWILL) – Former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, was arrested in Abuja on Monday night by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force over an investigation into alleged criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation arising from the disputed All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West.
Okorocha was picked up at REIZ Continental Hotel in central Abuja, bringing to a head days of controversy over reports that a court had ordered his arrest — a claim his media office had vigorously denied.
His arrest followed allegations that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations by police investigators probing documents purportedly connected with the outcome of the APC primary for Imo West, otherwise known as Orlu Zone.
The former governor was initially expected at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on September 2, 2026. His lawyers, however, requested a postponement, and the appointment was shifted to September 8.
He allegedly failed to appear on the rescheduled date, prompting further steps to compel his appearance before investigators.
A Senior Magistrate Court in Abuja reportedly issued bench warrants on September 9 against Okorocha, former Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha.
The warrants authorised police officers nationwide to arrest the four and produce them before Senior Magistrate Court 3 in Jiwa, Abuja.
At the heart of the criminal investigation are allegations that documents were forged or presented as authentic records showing that Okorocha won the APC primary for the Imo West senatorial ticket.
The controversy has since drawn in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which questioned a document purportedly presenting a different outcome from the result officially submitted to the commission by the APC.
THEWILL gathered that INEC had written to the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), requesting an investigation into the document and the circumstances surrounding its emergence.
Okorocha’s Camp Challenged Arrest Warrant
The arrest came against the backdrop of an emphatic denial by Okorocha’s media office that any valid bench warrant had been issued against the former governor.
His Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, had challenged those reporting the existence of the warrant to produce the court order, insisting that neither a Senior Magistrate Court nor a High Court had ordered Okorocha’s arrest.
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Okorocha’s camp also questioned the chronology of the reported proceedings, pointing to reports that placed the bench warrant on September 9 while an INEC petition linked to the disputed primary document was dated October 8.
Onwuemeodo argued that the sequence raised questions about claims linking the September court order directly to the later INEC petition and demanded that those circulating reports of the warrant produce documentary evidence or retract them.
Battle Over Imo West Ticket
The case has its roots in the contest for the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
Okorocha, who governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 before serving in the Senate, previously represented Imo West.
The latest dispute centres on competing claims over the outcome of the APC primary and, crucially, the authenticity of documents purportedly recording its result.
The matter assumed a criminal dimension following allegations that documents were forged or falsely presented as genuine records of the party’s primary. INEC’s reported decision to invite security agencies to investigate further intensified scrutiny of the controversy.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued a detailed public statement confirming where Okorocha was being held, whether he had been formally charged, or when he would be brought before the court.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
