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 in the 2027 elections, ruling that former governor Rochas Okorocha won the party’s primary.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, October 29, 2026, in a suit filed by Okorocha challenging the recognition of Uzodimma as the APC’s candidate for the senatorial district, also known as Orlu Zone.
The court held that the evidence before it established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the APC primary conducted on May 18, 2026, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Consequently, Justice Egwuatu directed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the Imo West senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027. The court also ordered INEC to publish Okorocha’s name as the party’s candidate.
The judgment followed a legal challenge instituted by Okorocha after INEC published Uzodimma’s name as the winner of the APC primary. The former governor had asked the court to determine whether the commission was bound by the reports of its officials who monitored the party’s primary and whether the recognition of Uzodimma was lawful.
Before the judgment, the APC and Uzodimma had challenged the suit, arguing that it was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed 14-day period for pre-election matters. The court had scheduled October 29 to deliver its decision after the parties presented their arguments.
The dispute attracted attention because Uzodimma is serving a second term as governor, which is expected to end in January 2028, while the next Senate is scheduled to be inaugurated in 2027. The timing had raised questions about his eligibility to contest the senatorial seat while still holding the governorship.
Okorocha served as Imo State governor from 2011 to 2019 and represented Imo West in the Senate from 2019 to 2023. His legal challenge sought recognition as the APC’s duly nominated candidate for the district.
The ruling changes the position of the two politicians in the contest for the APC ticket ahead of the 2027 elections. Any appeal or further legal proceedings could affect the final resolution of the dispute, while INEC and the party are expected to respond to the court’s directives.
The development comes as political parties continue preparations for the 2027 general elections, with candidate selection disputes and pre-election litigation likely to shape contests across the country.