Federal High Court Abuja Declares Rochas Okorocha APC Candidate for Imo West, Orders Governor Hope Uzodimma to Cease Parading as Nominee
The Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered judgment in favour of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha in a suit challenging the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Imo West ahead of the 2027 general election.
Delivering judgment on Thursday in suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that evidence before him showed that Uzodimma did not win the primary election for the Imo West Senatorial District conducted by the APC and monitored by the INEC. He ordered the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, to immediately stop presenting himself as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo West Senatorial election slated for January 16, 2027.
Okorocha instituted the suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC and Governor Hope Uzodimma over INEC’s publication of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district.
The former governor filed the suit on August 13, 2026, claiming that he won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026. Uzodimma’s camp, however, maintained that the governor won the primary.
The APC and Uzodimma had urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that it was statute-barred.
Okorocha, a former two-term governor of Imo State and former senator representing Imo West, challenged the party’s choice of candidate and the subsequent recognition of Uzodimma by INEC.
