INEC Raises Alarm Over Fake APC Result Naming Okorocha, Seeks DSS, Police Probe

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force over a disputed document allegedly circulating as the result of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West, which names former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the winner.

In separate letters dated October 5 and October 8, 2026, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, described the disputed document as fictitious and called on the security agencies to investigate its origin, circulation and authenticity.

The commission said the document contradicted the report of the APC primary election submitted to its office, insisting that the version in its possession identified Hope Uzodimma as the winner of the party’s primary for the Imo West Senatorial District, also known as the Orlu zone.

According to the petitions, the authentic report was dated May 18, 2026, and was submitted by the APC to its national headquarters before being forwarded to INEC.

The commission reportedly attached copies of both documents to its petitions, identifying the report it considered authentic as Annexure A and the disputed version as Annexure B.

INEC expressed concern that the circulation of the disputed document could mislead the public about the outcome of the party primary and create confusion over the APC’s candidate for the senatorial district ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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It therefore urged the DSS and police to establish how the document was produced and circulated and to take appropriate action in accordance with the law.

The controversy has drawn attention to the APC’s nomination process in Imo West, where Okorocha, a former governor and senator, has been linked to the contest for the party’s senatorial ticket. Uzodimma, the incumbent Imo State governor, is the person INEC says was named in the primary report submitted to it.

However, the commission’s petition concerning the disputed document should not be treated as a final judicial determination of any alleged forgery or as proof of who created or circulated it. The outcome of the requested security investigation was not established in the reports available as of October 10.

In a related but separate development, a Senior Magistrate Court in Abuja reportedly issued bench warrants on September 9, 2026, for the arrest of Okorocha, former senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha over allegations including criminal conspiracy, forgery and the use of false documents.

The reported proceedings involved case numbers CR/M/JW/084/2026 and CR/M/JW/085/2026. The allegations remain subject to legal proceedings, and the reported warrants do not establish the guilt of the individuals named.

The court matter is distinct from INEC’s petitions to the security agencies over the disputed APC primary result. Any connection between the two matters must be established through verified evidence rather than assumed from the allegations alone.

INEC’s intervention comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections, when the authenticity of nomination documents and the transparent handling of primary results will remain important issues.

The commission’s request places responsibility on the relevant security agencies to investigate the disputed document, determine its origin and establish the facts surrounding its circulation.