Court Nullifies Uzodimma’s APC Senatorial Ticket, Orders INEC To Recognise Okorocha

Court Nullifies Uzodimma’s APC Senatorial Ticket, Orders INEC to Recognise Okorocha A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the recognition of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the name of former governor, Rochas Okorocha. Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment, ruled that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, and should therefore be recognised as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election. The judge also restrained Uzodimma from parading himself as the APC candidate for the senatorial district, directing the party to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC. The judgment followed a suit instituted by Okorocha challenging INEC’s decision to publish Uzodimma’s name as the winner of the party’s primary election. In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu held that evidence presented before the court established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the APC primary monitored by INEC officials. The former governor had argued that the electoral commission was required to rely on the reports submitted by its officials who monitored the primary election. He consequently challenged the publication of Uzodimma’s name as the party’s candidate, insisting that the decision contradicted the outcome recorded by INEC’s monitoring officials. The suit was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026 and filed on August 13, 2026, with INEC, APC and Uzodimma listed as respondents. However, the Imo State chapter of the APC has rejected the court’s decision, insisting that Uzodimma remains its duly nominated candidate for Imo West Senatorial District. The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, said the governor emerged victorious in the party’s primary election with overwhelming support from members. The APC described reports of Uzodimma’s replacement as unverified and accused opposition figures of circulating misleading information about the party’s senatorial candidacy. The party maintained that its position on the nomination remained unchanged despite the judgment. Following the ruling, Uzodimma’s camp announced plans to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.The Imo State Government’s Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, said the governor would explore available legal options to overturn the decision. He criticised the judgment, arguing that the court failed to properly consider established judicial decisions governing pre-election disputes. The planned appeal means the dispute over the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket could continue through the judicial process. Reacting to the ruling, Okorocha described the judgment as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, the former governor expressed appreciation for the support and celebrations among his supporters, particularly across Imo West Senatorial District. He maintained that the people of the senatorial district had made their position known through the party’s primary election. Okorocha previously served as Imo State governor from 2011 to 2019 and represented Imo West in the Senate between 2019 and 2023. The judgment introduces another legal and political development into the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections in Imo State. While the court has ordered INEC to recognise Okorocha, the APC and Uzodimma have maintained their opposition to the ruling. The outcome of the planned appeal could determine the final resolution of the dispute over who will represent the APC in the Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for January 16, 2027.