Police authorities on Monday night detained former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha in Abuja over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

Okorocha was picked up at the Reiz Continental Hotel and released on bail after about an hour of questioning, according to Nigeria Police Force spokesperson Aniete Iniedu, who spoke with Channels Television.

Iniedu said the former governor had been directed to report to the Force Headquarters on Tuesday for further interrogation as detectives continued their investigation.

The detention followed Okorocha’s failure to honour repeated police invitations. He was initially summoned to the Force Headquarters on September 2, but the date was moved to September 8 at the request of his legal team. He subsequently failed to appear on the rescheduled date.

The police action followed petitions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) over a document circulating on social media, which the electoral body described as a fictitious result of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, submitted separate petitions to the security agencies in letters dated October 5 and October 8, 2026, requesting an investigation into the document.

The disputed document reportedly portrays Okorocha as the winner of the APC senatorial primary for Imo West, despite INEC’s certified report identifying incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma as the winner.

In his October 5 letter to the DSS state director, Ibeziako said he had been alerted to the document circulating online and reaffirmed that the authentic report, dated May 18, 2026, recognised Uzodimma as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district.

He warned that the circulation of the alleged fraudulent document could trigger a breakdown of law and order in Imo State and urged security agencies to take immediate action.

Ibeziako reiterated the complaint in a follow-up letter to the Imo State Commissioner of Police on October 8.