Former Imo State Governor and Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Hope Uzodinma before the Federal High Court over the party’s 2027 senatorial ticket for Imo West.
The suit, filed on August 13, 2026, is challenging INEC’s publication of Uzodinma as the APC candidate for the senatorial district. The case is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.
Okorocha is arguing that he won the APC direct primary conducted on May 18 and is asking the court to determine whether INEC was bound by the reports of its officials who monitored the exercise.
According to the suit, Okorocha claims he secured 150,780 votes, while Uzodinma allegedly polled 102,158 votes in the primary.
The former governor is also challenging the legality of Uzodinma contesting for the Senate while still serving as governor, citing Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Okorocha is asking the court to set aside INEC’s publication of Uzodinma as the APC candidate and direct the electoral commission to recognise and publish his name instead.
He is further seeking an order restraining Uzodinma from presenting himself as the APC’s nominated candidate for the 2027 Imo West senatorial election.
The legal action follows months of political competition over the Imo West seat. Uzodinma had earlier entered the senatorial race, with Okorocha and incumbent Senator Osita Izunaso also linked to the contest.
However, there is already a conflicting account of the APC primary: AIT reported in May that Uzodinma was declared winner with 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.
That contradiction is now at the heart of the legal dispute and makes the court proceedings particularly significant.