The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has barred Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, from parading himself as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that Uzodinma did not emerge winner of the APC senatorial primary election for Imo West.
The court said the primary, which was conducted on May 18, 2026 and duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was won by former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
Justice Egwuatu stated that documentary evidence and INEC monitoring report before the court proved that Okorocha polled majority of lawful votes cast at the primary.
Consequently, the court ordered the APC to immediately withdraw Uzodinma’s name and forward Okorocha’s name to INEC as its authentic candidate for the Imo West Senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The order followed a suit marked *FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026*, filed by Senator Rochas Okorocha against INEC, challenging the publication of Uzodinma’s name as the party’s candidate.
Governor Uzodinma and the APC were joined as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the suit.
The court further directed INEC to recognize and publish Okorocha as the validly nominated candidate of the APC for the district.
As at the time of filing this report, neither Governor Uzodinma nor the APC has officially reacted to the judgment.
