A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) to submit the name of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
The court also directed incumbent Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the APC’s candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the orders after ruling that Okorocha won the party’s senatorial primary election conducted on May 18, 2026, and monitored by INEC.
The judgment followed a legal challenge by Okorocha over the recognition of Uzodimma as the APC candidate for the district.
In its decision, the court held that the evidence presented before it established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast at the primary election and should therefore be recognised as the party’s validly nominated candidate.
The judge consequently directed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC for publication as its candidate for the Imo West senatorial contest.
The ruling marks a significant development in the political contest surrounding the APC’s nomination for the district, with the two prominent political figures now at the centre of a dispute over the party’s ticket.
Uzodimma, who currently governs Imo State, had been recognised as the party’s candidate before Okorocha challenged that position in court.
The judgment could have wider implications for the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, particularly in Imo State, where the party will need to resolve the consequences of the ruling as it prepares for the polls.
The case also highlights the role of the courts in resolving disputes over party primaries and determining whether candidates have been nominated in accordance with applicable electoral laws.
INEC and the APC are expected to act in line with the court’s orders, subject to any further legal developments that may arise from the dispute. Channels Television+2