A Federal High Court in Abuja reportedly ruled that former Imo State Gov. Rochas Okorocha won the All Progressives Congress (APC) Imo West Senate primary, leaving the party’s 2027 nomination contested.
Okorocha filed the case Aug. 13, challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recognition of Gov. Hope Uzodimma as primary winner, ICIR reported. TheCable and Arise News reported that the Oct. 29 ruling bars Uzodimma from claiming the ticket and requires the APC to take steps with INEC to put Okorocha forward.
ICIR reported sharply different vote counts in court submissions. A member of Uzodimma’s election committee said the governor received 230,464 votes and Okorocha 1,098. An affidavit supporting Okorocha’s case claimed he received 150,780 votes to Uzodimma’s 102,158.
In an Arise News interview reported by Premium Times, Okorocha said he obtained certified primary records from INEC on July 26. He alleged that records later presented by Uzodimma’s camp on Aug. 22 put the primary on May 16, although he said it took place May 18. Okorocha also challenged the description of Uzodimma’s selection as a consensus and alleged that one handwriting appeared on more than 300 result sheets from 144 wards and 12 local government areas.
Arise News separately reported, citing letters to security agencies, that INEC described a document naming Okorocha as fictitious and said its records showed Uzodimma won.
The Imo APC chapter says Uzodimma remains its nominee and that its legal department will review the ruling. The chapter’s continued support for Uzodimma as its nominee follows the reported court decision. Imo State Commissioner for Information Declan Emelumba said the state government would take the matter to the Court of Appeal.
Okorocha served as Imo governor from 2011 to 2019 and represented Imo West in the Senate from 2019 to 2023. INEC’s calendar sets the presidential and National Assembly elections for Jan. 16, 2027.
