A magistrate court in Abuja has reportedly ordered the arrest of ex-Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and former lawmaker Ifeanyi Araraume over alleged involvement in a conspiracy involving forged records and the circulation of falsified documents.
Naija News reports that Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha were also listed in the arrest orders over suspicions linking them to disputed paperwork connected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial nomination exercise.
The directives were reportedly signed on September 9, 2026, by Senior Magistrate Court 3 in Jiwa, Abuja. The matters are registered under suit numbers CR/M/JW/084/2026 and CR/M/JW/085/2026.
Information contained in the court records indicates that the Inspector-General of Police initiated the cases against the four suspects.
The orders empower police personnel across Nigeria to arrest the named individuals and produce them before the magistrate for further proceedings.
The matter stems from controversy surrounding documents allegedly claiming that Okorocha secured the APC ticket during a senatorial primary conducted in Imo State.
INEC Challenges Okorocha’s Claim Over APC Ticket
In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disputed the authenticity of a report reportedly being circulated by Okorocha to support his claim of winning the party’s primary.
The commission maintained that the results formally submitted by the APC identified Governor Hope Uzodimma as the winner of the contest for the Imo West Senatorial District, also known as Orlu Zone.
INEC explained that Uzodimma’s name was officially presented to the electoral body by the party as its candidate for the constituency.
The commission subsequently asked security operatives to examine the document attributed to Okorocha, which it described as fabricated.
The complaint was conveyed in a letter sent to the Imo State Commissioner of Police and the state director of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Dated October 8, 2026, the correspondence was signed by Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State.
In the communication, INEC raised concerns over what it described as a falsified APC senatorial primary report for Imo State, bearing the date May 18, 2026.
The electoral body explained that the disputed paperwork conflicted with the results officially submitted by the APC, which recorded Uzodimma as the candidate who won the exercise.
It further alleged that another version of the report had emerged on social media, identifying Okorocha as the party’s successful aspirant instead.
INEC said the document incorrectly named Senator Ethelbert Rochas Okorocha as the party’s nominee for the senatorial seat.
To substantiate its complaint, the commission reportedly forwarded both the recognised election results and the disputed report to the security agencies for examination.
The electoral body called on the police and DSS to establish how the questionable document was produced and circulated, while taking appropriate action based on their findings.
INEC also warned that the circulation of such records could heighten political tension and threaten public peace in Imo State.
The commission urged the security agencies to address the matter promptly to prevent any potential breakdown of law and order.
The reported court directives and INEC’s petition have brought renewed attention to the disagreement over the APC’s choice of candidate for the Imo West senatorial seat.
Nevertheless, the allegations remain subject to legal determination, and the arrest warrants do not in themselves establish the guilt of any of the individuals named.
