Imo APC in Chaos: Court Backs Okorocha for Senate, Rejects Uzodimma's Bid
The Federal High Court in Abuja has reportedly declared former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election, overturning Governor Hope Uzodimma's candidacy. This decision, however, is contested by the Imo State APC chapter, which maintains Uzodimma remains its candidate and plans to review the judgment. The dispute raises constitutional questions and has significant political implications for the party in the state.
A significant political development has unfolded in Imo State regarding the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidacy for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election. The Federal High Court in Abuja has reportedly declared former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the authentic APC candidate, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish his name. This decision, reportedly delivered by Justice Egwuatu of Court 11, stems from a suit filed by Okorocha challenging the initial recognition of incumbent Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the APC's senatorial flagbearer.
Okorocha initiated legal action following the APC’s senatorial primary held on May 18, 2026, where Uzodimma was declared the winner. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, named INEC, Governor Uzodimma, and the APC as respondents. Okorocha, through his counsel O.J. Aboje, filed the originating summons on August 13, 2026, seeking clarification on whether INEC was obligated to adhere to the reports of its primary election monitors and if the commission's publication of Uzodimma's name was lawful.
A core argument raised by Okorocha questioned the constitutionality of Uzodimma's candidacy. He pointed out that Governor Uzodimma's tenure as governor is slated to conclude in January 2028, while the 11th National Assembly is scheduled for inauguration in June 2027. Okorocha cited Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, which explicitly prohibits a sitting governor from simultaneously holding another executive office or paid employment. Consequently, he sought a court declaration that Uzodimma's candidacy publication was unconstitutional and requested INEC to recognize and publish his name instead, also seeking to restrain Uzodimma and the APC from presenting the governor as the party's candidate.
Discrepancies in the primary election results further complicated the matter. According to an affidavit attached to Okorocha's suit by his son, Amen Rochas, Okorocha allegedly secured 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma polled 102,158 votes. However, Williams Kayode, who served as the chairman and returning officer for the APC’s 2026 Imo National Assembly Primary Election Committee, had previously declared Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes.
In response to the reported judgment, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has maintained its stance that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its legitimate candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District. In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the party affirmed that Uzodimma secured the senatorial ticket with overwhelming support from party members during the primary election. The APC indicated that its legal department would thoroughly review the court's decision and take appropriate action. This reported judgment carries significant political ramifications for the APC in Imo State as the 2027 general election approaches, especially given Governor Uzodimma was sworn in for his second term in January 2024, scheduled to end in January 2028.