Court Sacks Uzodimma as APC Candidate for Orlu Senate Seat, Directs Party to Submit Okorocha’s Name
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order after ruling that Uzodimma did not win the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In delivering judgment, the judge held that evidence before the court showed that former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the primary.
The court consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.
How the Dispute Started
Okorocha instituted the suit in August after INEC published Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, listed INEC, Uzodimma and the APC as respondents.
According to Politics Nigeria, O.J. Aboje, counsel to Okorocha, filed the originating summons at the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026.
Okorocha, who governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 and represented the state in the Senate from 2019 to 2023, contested the APC senatorial ticket against Uzodimma in May.
Williams Kayode, chairman and returning officer of the 2026 Imo APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, had declared Uzodimma the winner with 230,464 votes.
Okorocha, however, challenged the result, alleging that he won the primary with 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma scored 102,158 votes.
Questions Raised Over INEC’s Role
In his suit, Okorocha asked the court to determine whether INEC was bound by the reports of its officials who monitored the APC primary held on May 18.
He also sought a determination of whether the electoral commission acted wrongly by publishing Uzodimma’s name as the winner of the primary, citing Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution.
The provision states that a governor cannot hold another executive office or engage in paid employment while serving as governor.
Okorocha argued that INEC acted unconstitutionally by publishing Uzodimma’s name as the party’s candidate when, according to him, the governor had not won the primary election.
He therefore asked the court to nullify the publication of Uzodimma’s name and direct INEC to recognise and publish him as the duly nominated APC candidate.
The former governor also sought an order restraining Uzodimma, the APC and anyone acting on their behalf from presenting the governor as the party’s candidate for the election.
Controversy Over Governorship Tenure and Senate Seat
An affidavit attached to the suit contained allegations by Amen Rochas, Okorocha’s son, that Uzodimma purchased the APC nomination forms for the senatorial ticket despite his governorship tenure extending beyond the inauguration of the 11th Senate in June 2027.
Uzodimma began his second term as governor in January 2024, and his tenure is expected to end in January 2028.
The timing of the senatorial election and the inauguration of the next Senate has generated debate over whether Uzodimma would be required to resign as governor if elected to the Senate in 2027.
The court’s ruling now directs the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election.
