A fresh twist has emerged in the battle for the Imo West Senatorial District ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that nullified the nomination of Governor Hope Uzodimma and ordered the recognition of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, October 29, 2026, directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was also ordered to replace Uzodimma’s name with that of the former governor.
The decision followed a legal challenge by Okorocha over the outcome of the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, in which the party had declared Uzodimma the winner.
In resolving the dispute, the court held that the evidence presented before it established Okorocha as the aspirant who secured the majority of lawful votes at the primary.
It consequently ruled that he was entitled to the party’s ticket for the Imo West senatorial contest.
The judge also restrained Uzodimma from continuing to hold himself out as the APC’s candidate for the district, finding that the nomination process did not comply with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the party’s primary election guidelines.
A key issue in the case was the conflicting accounts of the primary election results. The figures declared by the party reportedly gave Uzodimma 230,464 votes and Okorocha 1,098 votes. Okorocha, however, challenged the outcome, insisting that the declared figures did not reflect the exercise monitored by INEC.
The court’s decision therefore places the conduct and documentation of the party’s primary at the centre of the dispute, with the judge questioning the credibility of documents submitted in support of the declared result.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Okorocha, O.J. Aboje, welcomed the decision, describing it as a vindication of his client following allegations concerning documents connected to the disputed primary.
“We’re happy. You recall that in the last few weeks my client has been accused in the media of forging documents,” Aboje said, according to reports of the proceedings.
Okorocha’s son and political aide, Amen Rochas, also welcomed the ruling and commended the judiciary over the outcome.
The judgment represents a significant development in the political contest between Okorocha and Uzodimma, two influential figures in Imo State politics. Okorocha governed the state from 2011 to 2019, while Uzodimma currently serves as governor.
With the court directing the APC and INEC to recognise Okorocha, attention will now turn to the party’s response and whether any of the affected parties will pursue further legal action.
For the APC, the ruling introduces a new dimension to its preparations for the 2027 elections in Imo West. The final political implications will depend on the implementation of the court’s orders and any subsequent proceedings.
NewsNet Nigeria will continue to follow developments in the case and report any official responses from the parties involved.
