Court affirms Okorocha as APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial district

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has on Thursday ordered that the name of former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha be published as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Imo West senatorial district for the 2027 general elections.

This order was given by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who also ordered incumbent governor Hope Uzodimma to cease and desist from parading himself as the APC nominee for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.

The judge gave the orders in his judgment on a suit filed by Okorocha challenging Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate.

Justice Egwuatu held that evidence before the court established that Okorocha won the May 18, 2026 APC primary election monitored by INEC.

The court consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the election.

The dispute followed conflicting claims over the outcome of the party’s primary, with INEC’s official results recognising Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes, against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.

Okorocha challenged the outcome in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, questioning INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma and raising issues concerning the governor’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while in office.

More details to follow…