INEC Petitions DSS, Police Over Fake Document Naming Okorocha APC Primary Winner

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

The commission, through its Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, described the document as fictitious, saying it contradicted the official result of the May 18, 2026, primary election.

In separate letters dated October 5 and 8, 2026, Ibeziako petitioned the DSS and the Imo State Commissioner of Police, requesting an investigation into the origin and circulation of the disputed report.

According to the REC, the authentic result report submitted to INEC’s national headquarters identified Governor Hope Uzodimma as the duly elected APC candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District.

In his letter to the DSS State Director, Ibeziako explained that he became aware of the document circulating online and raised concerns over its contents.

He stated that the disputed report wrongly presented Okorocha as the party’s candidate, contrary to the official document retained by his office.

The REC attached copies of both documents to his petition, identifying the authentic result as Annexure A and the disputed document as Annexure B.

He warned that the circulation of the alleged fake report could trigger tension and potentially disrupt public order in Imo State.

Ibeziako reiterated the complaint in a subsequent letter to the state Commissioner of Police dated October 8, urging the security agency to investigate the matter.

The development comes amid a legal battle between Okorocha, INEC, Uzodimma and the APC over the party’s senatorial ticket for Imo West ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Okorocha had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging INEC’s decision to publish Uzodimma’s name as the APC’s candidate for the district.

The former governor asked the court to determine whether the commission was bound by the reports of its officials who monitored the May 18 primary election.

He also questioned the legality of recognising Uzodimma as the winner, citing Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, which restricts a sitting governor from holding another executive office or engaging in paid employment while in office.

The court’s determination of the dispute could have implications for the contest over the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.