Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha (born 22
September 1962) is a Nigerian
businessman, education philanthropist and
politician from Imo State, Nigeria who won
the 6 May 2011 gubernatorial election in
Imo State and was reelected for his second
term on April 11, 2015. He is the founder
of Rochas Foundation, a charity comprising
a number of special schools that are
spread all over Nigeria that gives
scholarship to the less privileged children
in the Nigerian society. In his first attempt,
he ran on the All Progressives Grand
Alliance (APGA) platform and ran on the
All Progressives Congress in his second
shot. In both occasions, Rochas defeated
his closest rival, incumbent governor Ikedi
Ohakim and serving Deputy Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka
Ihedioha, by a close margin of votes and
had to go for reruns
Background
Rochas, an Igbo, was born on 22
September 1962 in Ogboko, Ideato South,
Imo State. He attended Juladaco High
School, Jos (1976-1981). He studied at the
University of Jos (1990-1991), obtaining a
diploma in Public Administration. He
returned to the University of Jos
(1993-1994) to obtain an advanced diploma
in Public Administration. Career positions
include President, Nigeria Red Cross
Society, President/Founder, Rochas
Foundation Inc, President, Rochas Group of
Companies Limited, Pro Chancellor, African
Business School and Former Chairman,
Board of Nigerian Airspace Management
Agency.
Early political career
Okorocha was a Commissioner on the
Federal Character Commission and a
Member of the National Constitutional
Conference. When democracy was restored
in 1999, Rochas Okorocha competed in the
primaries to be People's Democratic Party
(PDP) candidate for governor of Imo State,
but lost to Achike Udenwa. He moved to
the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), and
was an unsuccessful candidate for
President on the ANPP platform in 2003.
He returned to the PDP, and President
Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as
Special Adviser on Inter-Party affairs.
Rochas Okorocha formed the Action
Alliance (AA) party in 2005, planning to
become a Presidential candidate for the AA
in the 2007 elections. He again returned to
the PDP, and in September 2007 indicated
that he was interested in becoming PDP
National Chairman. After Governor Ikedi
Ohakim decamped from the Progressive
Peoples Alliance (PPA) to the PDP in July
2009, Okorocha denied that Ohakim had
taken over the PDP in the state, saying he
was named as leader since he was
governor, but a proper PDP congress
should be held to decide on policy.
Early political career
Okorocha was a Commissioner on the
Federal Character Commission and a
Member of the National Constitutional
Conference.When democracy was restored
in 1999, Rochas Okorocha competed in the
primaries to be People's Democratic Party
(PDP) candidate for governor of Imo State,
but lost to Achike Udenwa. He moved to
the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), and
was an unsuccessful candidate for
President on the ANPP platform in 2003.
He returned to the PDP, and President
Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as
Special Adviser on Inter-Party affairs.
Rochas Okorocha formed the Action
Alliance (AA) party in 2005, planning to
become a Presidential candidate for the AA
in the 2007 elections. He again returned to
the PDP, and in September 2007 indicated
that he was interested in becoming PDP
National Chairman. After Governor Ikedi
Ohakim decamped from the Progressive
Peoples Alliance (PPA) to the PDP in July
2009, Okorocha denied that Ohakim had
taken over the PDP in the state, saying he
was named as leader since he was
governor, but a proper PDP congress
should be held to decide on policy.
