Court Nullifies Uzodimma’s Senate Ticket, Orders INEC to Recognise Okorocha

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

 

Justice Obiora Egwuatu also directed incumbent Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.

 

The judge issued the orders on Thursday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Okorocha, who challenged INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.

 

Justice Egwuatu held that the evidence before the court established that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, which was monitored by INEC.

 

The court consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to the electoral commission as its candidate for the election.

 

The dispute arose from conflicting claims over the outcome of the party’s primary. INEC’s official results had recognised Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was recorded as receiving 1,098 votes.

 

Okorocha challenged the outcome in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, questioning INEC’s decision to recognise Uzodimma and raising concerns about the governor’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while still in office.