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By 247ureports.com
A Senior Magistrate Court in Jiwa, Abuja, has issued bench warrants for the arrest of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, former Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and two others over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and the use of false documents, in a case tied to a disputed All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary in Imo State.
The Warrants
The warrants, dated September 9, 2026, were issued in two cases filed by the Inspector-General of Police, according to reports citing court documents. They name Okorocha, Araraume, Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha. The defendants are charged with criminal conspiracy, forgery and uttering false documents, and some reports add perjury. The warrants authorise police officers across Nigeria to arrest the four and produce them before Senior Magistrate Court 3 in Jiwa, Abuja.
The case concerns the APC primary for the Imo West Senatorial District, also known as Orlu Zone, held on May 18, 2026. The accused are alleged to have forged and tendered false results presenting Okorocha as the winner of that primary.
INEC’s Intervention
The warrants came to public attention alongside a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a letter dated October 8, 2026, and signed by Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, INEC disowned a document in circulation that purportedly declared Okorocha the winner of the primary. The commission said the document was “fraudulent and fictitious,” and asked the Imo State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate.
INEC said the authentic result forwarded to it by the APC showed Governor Hope Uzodimma as the winner, and that his name was duly submitted as the party’s candidate for Imo West. The commission enclosed both the original result and the disputed one with its letter.
What Remains Unclear
Reports have not said whether anyone has been arrested, when the warrants will be served, or what specific role is alleged for each of the four named individuals. Araraume’s connection to the disputed document is not explained in the coverage reviewed. 247ureports.com had not located a response from Okorocha, Araraume or the other two named, or from the APC, at the time of this report.
Presumption of Innocence
An arrest warrant is not a finding of guilt, and the allegations must be determined through the judicial process. A bench warrant is generally issued to compel a person’s appearance in court, and does not by itself establish that the allegations are true. Okorocha, who represented Imo West in the Senate from 2019 to 2023, is a longtime political rival of Uzodimma, and the dispute adds to an already tense contest for the seat.
Wider Questions
The case raises questions about how party primaries are documented and verified, and about the role of INEC, which received the authentic results from the party, in confirming candidate lists. Civil society and election observers have also repeatedly called for thorough investigation of any allegation of electoral document forgery, whoever is involved.
