TINUBU NATIONAL CONTINUITY INITIATIVE (TNCI)

“One People. One Nation. One Future.”

PRESS STATEMENT

TNCI CONDEMNS POLITICAL TENSION OVER IMO WEST SENATORIAL CANDIDACY, CALLS FOR FAIRNESS AND PROTECTION OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.

The Tinubu National Continuity Initiative (TNCI) has through it’s National Coordinator, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi and the National Publicity Secretary, Hon Babajide Alofe expresses serious concern over the reported court decision replacing Governor Hope Uzodimma with former Governor Rochas Okorocha as the senatorial candidate for Imo West. The development raises fundamental questions about party primaries, judicial intervention in party affairs, and the implications of the ruling for democratic participation.

Party primaries are fundamentally an internal political-party process, governed by party rules and applicable electoral laws. Where disputes arise, they should be resolved strictly within the framework of the law. TNCI believes that the legal basis of this ruling deserves close examination, particularly the question of why the matter was brought before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja rather than a court in Imo State. The question of jurisdiction must be answered by reference to the applicable law and the facts of the case, not political speculation.

TNCI further maintains that Governor Uzodimma must not be denied the opportunity to pursue every lawful remedy available to him, including an appeal where legally appropriate. A court judgment should be respected, but the right to challenge a decision through established appellate procedures is equally fundamental to the administration of justice.

We also consider it necessary for former Governor Rochas Okorocha to exercise restraint in his public comments about taking the proposed Rainbow Coalition into Imo State while the dispute remains subject to possible further legal proceedings. Political alliances are legitimate, but they should not become instruments for escalating personal rivalries or deepening divisions within the APC.

The reported coalition activities associated with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike also raise questions about their potential implications for APC unity and political stability. Any political arrangement involving members or allies of different parties should be transparent about its objectives and consequences. No coalition should become a vehicle for destabilizing the APC, undermining its internal processes, or prejudicing the political rights of any aspirant. Allegations of a coordinated effort against Governor Uzodimma, however, must be established through credible evidence rather than assumption.

TNCI is particularly concerned about any attempt to turn judicial proceedings into a weapon of political rivalry. The judiciary must never allow itself to be used by desperate political interests to derail democracy or undermine public confidence in the rule of law. Judges must remain independent, impartial, and guided solely by the law and the evidence before them.

Governor Hope Uzodimma has played a prominent role in national political engagement and is widely regarded by his political allies as one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strongest supporters. The present dispute therefore has implications beyond Imo West, touching on party cohesion and the broader political relationships surrounding the President’s administration. TNCI believes that political disagreements should be resolved through lawful and democratic processes, not through actions that could unnecessarily deepen divisions.

Our position is clear: the rights of every aspirant must be respected, the law must be applied fairly, and the democratic process must not be subordinated to political rivalry. The people of Imo West deserve a process governed by law, transparency, and respect for democratic institutions.

TNCI calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint, pursue lawful remedies, and avoid actions capable of destabilizing political institutions. The overriding priority must be the preservation of democratic integrity, party stability, and public confidence in the rule of law.