A Federal High Court in Abuja has stripped Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) ticket for the Imo West senatorial seat, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize former Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate for the January 16, 2027, election.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Thursday held that evidence before the court established that Uzodinma did not win the APC primary held on May 18, an exercise monitored by INEC.
The judge found that Okorocha received the most votes and was therefore the party’s rightful nominee.
The court directed INEC to immediately recognize and publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate.
It also barred Uzodinma from presenting himself as the party’s flag bearer for the senatorial contest.
Okorocha, who governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 and later represented Imo West in the Senate, had challenged INEC’s recognition of Uzodinma in a suit filed in August.
The primary outcome had been disputed as the APC returning officer declared Uzodinma the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha’s legal filings alleged that he won with 150,780 votes to Uzodinma’s 102,158.
