A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has criticised Governor Hope Uzodimma for looking for to contest the Imo West District election regardless of serving as governor of the South-eastern state.
Mr Okorocha spoke on Thursday evening when he appeared as a visitor on Channels TV’s Politics Today.
The former governor was responding to his earlier victory on the Federal High Court in Abuja.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Mr Uzodimma as the APC’s candidate for the district after which declared Mr Okorocha as the winner of the occasion’s major for the district.
Mr Okorocha argued on the Channels TV programme that Mr Uzodimma ought to have resigned as governor earlier than looking for a return to the Senate.
“The level we’re making is that Hope Uzodimma has a tenure of eight years to elapse in January 2028. Hope is contesting for the Senate, which begins in June 2027.
“What that means is that Hope Uzodimma is holding a paid job and seeking another paid job,” he stated.
The former governor argued that holding two paid jobs as a governor was opposite to Section 183 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
“The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever,” the part says.
But PREMIUM TIMES understands that Mr Uzodimma had perfected plans to resign as governor earlier than the inauguration of the eleventh Senate in 2027 if he was profitable along with his ambition.
Meanwhile, this newspaper remembers that each Messrs Uzodimma and Okorocha had represented the district previously.
While Mr Uzodimma served as the senator for the district from June 2011 to June 2019, Mr Okorocha represented the identical district from 2019 to 2023.
‘Resign as governor first’
During the TV present, Mr Okorocha contended that Mr Uzodimma was incorrect to search a return to the Senate whereas nonetheless serving as governor of the South-eastern state.
“The Constitution by no means envisaged that such a scenario would ever come up the place a standard particular person holding a place of governor would abandon it to go for the Senate when his tenure had not come to an finish.
“But the court made a very clear statement on that. And it’s unlawful for him to do that because if he wins it, he would be holding two paid jobs,” he stated.
‘Uzodimma should not appeal the judgement’
Mr Okorocha steered that Mr Uzodimma shouldn’t attraction the judgement as a result of the “facts had spoken.”
“He has the right of appeal. But you know you cannot manipulate the law,” he stated.
How my candidacy will assist Tinubu’s victory in Imo
Mr Okorocha celebrated the courtroom judgement which affirmed his APC candidacy for Imo West District after which contended that his candidacy would assist President Bola Tinubu win within the state in 2027.
“What is essential to me now could be how Asiwaju will likely be elected in Imo State.
“With my emergence now in this ticket, Asiwaju can be sure that his victory is given in Imo State,” he stated.
The former governor stated he refused to go away the APC regardless of his squabbles with Mr Uzodimma within the state as a result of he was a founding member of the ruling occasion.
“I wouldn’t have left the occasion I had based. The identify APC was given by Rochas Okorocha. Ask anyone.
“I am among the founding fathers of this party and so I’ll not leave the party because of Hope Uzodimma,” he stated.
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