The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, directing the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the rightful winner of the party’s senatorial primary.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following a legal challenge filed by Okorocha over the APC’s nomination of Uzodinma as its candidate for the senatorial district.
The court held that the evidence presented during the proceedings established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes in the APC primary conducted on May 18, 2026, contrary to the party’s subsequent recognition of Uzodinma as the winner.
Consequently, the judge ordered Uzodinma to stop presenting himself as the APC’s senatorial candidate for Imo West and directed the party to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC for the January 16, 2027, election.
Court Rules in Favour of Rochas Okorocha
The legal dispute centred on the legitimacy of the APC primary election conducted to select the party’s candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District.
Okorocha challenged the decision to recognise Uzodinma as the winner, arguing that the electoral records and reports available from the primary showed that he had secured the highest number of votes.
The former governor asked the court to determine whether INEC was legally required to rely on the reports submitted by its officials who monitored the party’s primary election.
He also challenged the publication of Uzodinma’s name as the APC’s candidate, insisting that the declaration did not reflect the actual outcome of the primary.
After considering the evidence presented before it, Justice Egwuatu ruled that Okorocha had established his claim to the party’s ticket.
The court subsequently set aside the recognition of Uzodinma as the winner and directed the relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to recognise Okorocha as the APC candidate for the forthcoming senatorial election.
APC and Uzodinma Had Opposed the Suit
During the proceedings, Uzodinma and the APC challenged Okorocha’s case, arguing that the suit was filed outside the legally prescribed period for challenging the outcome of a primary election.
Their legal representatives maintained that the case was statute-barred and should be dismissed.
The governor and the party also disputed Okorocha’s account of the primary election, maintaining that Uzodinma had legitimately emerged as the winner.
The electoral commission similarly opposed the suit, relying on its account of the primary election and the report it said its officials had submitted.
However, the court ruled in Okorocha’s favour after examining the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.
The judgment represents a significant development in the internal political contest within the APC in Imo State, particularly because both men have previously occupied influential positions in the state’s political structure.
Political Implications for Uzodinma
The ruling presents a major setback for Uzodinma’s reported ambition to move from the Imo State Government House to the Nigerian Senate in 2027.
Uzodinma, who began his second term as governor in January 2024, had been associated with plans to contest the Imo West senatorial seat in the next general election.
However, the court’s decision means that he cannot continue presenting himself as the APC’s candidate for the district under the judgment as delivered.
The development also introduces uncertainty into the political calculations surrounding the next National Assembly, particularly regarding the leadership of the Senate.
Although the Senate president is elected by senators after the inauguration of the National Assembly, a prospective candidate must first secure a Senate seat.
Consequently, the court’s decision could affect any plans Uzodinma may have had to pursue a leadership position in the upper chamber, depending on the outcome of any further legal proceedings.
Okorocha’s Political Comeback
For Okorocha, the judgment represents an important development in his attempt to return to the National Assembly.
The former governor of Imo State served from 2011 to 2019 before winning election to the Senate, where he represented Imo West from 2019 to 2023.
His attempt to secure the APC ticket for the 2027 election has brought him into direct competition with Uzodinma, highlighting the continuing rivalry between the two influential politicians.
The court’s decision places Okorocha in a stronger position to contest the senatorial election on the APC platform, subject to any further legal developments affecting the judgment.
If the ruling stands and the relevant authorities comply with the court’s directives, Okorocha will be positioned to seek a return to the Senate as the party’s candidate.
What the Judgment Means for INEC and the APC
The court directed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC and ordered the electoral commission to recognise and publish his name as the party’s candidate for Imo West.
The decision places responsibility on the party and the electoral commission to give effect to the court’s orders.
The APC will also have to address the implications of the ruling for its preparations for the 2027 general elections and its internal nomination processes.
The case underscores the importance of compliance with party guidelines, electoral procedures and the legal requirements governing the nomination of candidates.
It also demonstrates how disputes over party primaries can significantly affect electoral preparations, particularly when competing aspirants challenge the legitimacy of a nomination.
Could Uzodinma Appeal the Judgment?
The judgment may not necessarily mark the end of the dispute.
Uzodinma and the APC may pursue available legal remedies, including an appeal, if they choose to challenge the decision through the judicial process.
Any subsequent proceedings could determine whether the judgment remains in force or is altered by a higher court.
Until any relevant appellate decision changes the position, the court’s orders concerning the Imo West senatorial ticket remain a central development in the dispute.
2027 Elections: Fresh Uncertainty in Imo APC
The ruling has intensified attention on the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections in Imo State.
The contest for the Imo West senatorial seat is particularly significant because of the political influence of both Uzodinma and Okorocha and their respective roles in the state’s political history.
For the APC, the immediate challenge will be to respond to the judgment while managing the political consequences of the dispute.
For Okorocha, the ruling offers a significant opportunity to pursue a return to the Senate, while Uzodinma faces a legal setback to his reported senatorial ambition.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, the final outcome of the dispute may depend on whether the judgment is appealed and how the relevant authorities implement the court’s directives.