The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the circulation of an alleged fake All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary result naming former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.
The commission said the disputed document, which has reportedly circulated on social media, contradicts the official result submitted by the APC to its national headquarters and subsequently presented to INEC.
Politics Nigeria gathered that the electoral body said that the authentic report identified Governor Hope Uzodimma as the winner of the party’s primary for the senatorial district, popularly known as Orlu Zone.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, communicated the commission’s position in separate letters dated October 5 and October 8, 2026.
The letters were addressed to the state director of the DSS and the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, requesting an investigation into the origin and circulation of the disputed result.
INEC described the document as fraudulent and said its contents were inconsistent with the primary election report signed and forwarded to its national headquarters.
The commission expressed concern that the circulation of a document contradicting the official result could create tension and threaten public order in the state.
In the October 8 letter, the commission described the matter as a case of “fraudulent and fictitious All Progressives Congress senatorial party primary report for Imo State dated 18th May, 2026.”
The REC also stated that “The fictitious document wrongly presented Senator Ethelbert Rochas Okorocha as the elected candidate for the party.”
According to the commission, the authentic report of the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, recognised Uzodimma as the winner.
His name was subsequently forwarded to INEC as the party’s candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.
The disputed document, however, allegedly presented Okorocha as the winner of the same exercise.
INEC said the difference between the two documents was the basis for its request that the security agencies establish how the disputed version was produced and circulated.
To assist the investigation, the commission attached copies of both documents to its petitions.
The authentic primary election report was marked as Annexure A, while the disputed document was identified as Annexure B.
INEC urged the police and the DSS to examine the documents, establish their origin and determine the circumstances surrounding their circulation.
It also called for appropriate action in accordance with the law if the investigation establishes evidence of forgery or other offences.
The commission warned that the alleged conduct could have serious consequences for peace and security in Imo State.
It therefore called on the security agencies to intervene and prevent the dispute from escalating.
In its appeal to the security agencies, INEC stated, “In these circumstances, I urge you to graciously use your good offices to investigate and neutralise this spurious conduct that has a serious likelihood of causing the breakdown of law and order in Imo State.”
The petitions place the dispute over the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket before the relevant security authorities.
However, the allegations contained in the letters remain subject to investigation, and the circulation of the disputed document does not, by itself, establish who produced it or who was responsible for distributing it.
The requested investigation is expected to clarify the source of the disputed document and whether any offence was committed in its preparation or circulation.
INEC has urged the police and the DSS to handle the matter in line with the law.
As of the time of this report, the petitions and the commission’s account of the two documents form the basis of the allegations.
Any further determination of responsibility will depend on the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.