The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken a decisive step by formally notifying the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force regarding a purported fraudulent result from the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election in Imo State. This action follows the emergence of a disputed document on social media that inaccurately claims Senator Rochas Okorocha as the winner for the Imo West Senatorial District.

In letters dated October 5 and October 8, 2026, signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, INEC described the circulating document as fictitious and lacking any resemblance to the official results submitted to its national headquarters. The commission emphasized that the authentic report, dated May 18, 2026, clearly identifies Senator Hope Odidika Uzodinma as the legitimate APC candidate for the same senatorial district.

The commission has attached both the legitimate results and the disputed document to its petitions, labeling them as Annexures A and B, respectively. This will allow investigators to conduct a side-by-side comparison of the two documents to ascertain the authenticity of the claims.

INEC has expressed serious concerns over the potential risks posed to public order by the circulation of the alleged forgery. In its communication to the DSS and the police, the commission urged a thorough investigation into the origins of the document and how it was disseminated to the public. The commission has not identified any individuals responsible for the creation or distribution of the disputed document.

The controversy surrounding the APC primary results has intensified, particularly as Senator Rochas Okorocha has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging INEC's recognition of Hope Uzodinma as the party's candidate. Okorocha claims to have won the primary with 150,780 votes, while Uzodinma was declared the winner with 230,464 votes, a result that has sparked significant debate and legal scrutiny.

This situation raises critical constitutional questions regarding Uzodinma's eligibility to contest the upcoming 2027 senatorial election, given that his tenure as governor extends until January 2028. The unfolding events in Imo State are being closely monitored as they could have significant implications for the political landscape in the region.