A Federal High Court ruling that former Imo Gov. Rochas Okorocha won the All Progressives Congress’ Imo West primary conflicts with Nigeria’s latest election list and leaves Gov. Hope Uzodimma’s Senate bid in doubt.
Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu ruled Oct. 29 in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026 that Okorocha won the APC primary held May 18, 2026. The court ordered the party to send Okorocha’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), directed the agency to list him as nominee and barred Uzodimma from claiming the ticket. Egwuatu said the case met the constitutional 14-day filing limit because the dispute began when INEC published Uzodimma’s name Aug. 1 and Okorocha filed on Aug. 13.
The judgment presents two sharply different tallies. An exhibit submitted for Okorocha recorded 150,780 votes for him and 102,158 for Uzodimma; the respondents’ records instead showed 1,098 for Okorocha and 230,464 for Uzodimma. Egwuatu ruled for Okorocha and identified discrepancies in the records.
INEC’s Oct. 31 list continues to show “UZODINMA GOODHOPE ODIDIKA” as the APC’s Imo West nominee and does not list Okorocha as the party’s candidate for the district. The Imo APC chapter said Uzodimma remained its candidate and that its legal department would study the decision. The ruling adds to the dispute over the party’s Imo West nomination.
Separately, Senate President Godswill Akpabio received endorsements for another term in the top post. At an Oct. 15 plenary, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno declared the next Senate’s leadership had “no vacancy.” Senator Cyril Fasuyi backed the motion, and Akpabio put it to a voice vote, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation said.
The Constitution gives incoming senators the authority to elect their president and deputy president from among their own members, making the endorsement a political signal rather than a formal choice. INEC’s calendar sets the presidential and National Assembly election for Jan. 16, 2027.
