The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) reportedly arrested and subsequently released former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday night over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.
Aniete Iniedu, NPF spokesperson, told Channels Television that Okorocha was taken into custody at the REIZ Continental Hotel in Abuja.
He was attending a reception for the conferment of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title when the arrest occurred.
He was held and interrogated for approximately one hour before being released on administrative bail.
According to Iniedu, the arrest was executed because Okorocha repeatedly failed to honor official invitations.
He was initially summoned on September 2, and despite his legal team shifting the appointment to September 8, he failed to appear.
Iniedu stated that the former governor has been instructed to present himself at Force Headquarters on Tuesday for additional interrogation as detectives proceed with their inquiry.
The police action comes in the wake of formal petitions submitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to both the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding a document shared on social media, which the election umpire labelled a fictitious All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary result.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, petitioned the security agencies in separate letters dated October 5 and October 8, 2026.
Also Read:
Ibeziako requested an investigation into the circulating document, which portrays Okorocha as the winner of the APC primary for the Imo West senatorial district.
According to the REC, the online document directly contradicts the certified report submitted to INEC national headquarters, which confirms sitting Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma as the legitimate winner of the primary.
In his October 5 letter to the DSS state director, Ibeziako noted that his attention had been brought to the online document, reaffirming that the authentic report, dated May 18, 2026, officially designated Uzodimma as the elected Imo West candidate.
Warning that the spread of the fraudulent material threatened to trigger a breakdown of law and order within Imo State, Ibeziako urged immediate action by security operatives.
He reiterated the complaint in a follow-up letter to the Imo State Commissioner of Police on October 8.
[wpadcenter_ad id='745970' align='none']