Court Sacks Hope Uzodimma, Declares Rochas Okorocha Winner of Imo West APC Primary

According to a report by Vanguard Nigeria on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified Governor Hope Uzodimma’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that evidence before the court established that former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha obtained the highest number of votes during the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026. The exercise was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court consequently directed INEC to recognise Okorocha as the party’s legitimate candidate and publish his name for the forthcoming senatorial election.

It also restrained Uzodimma from continuing to claim the APC ticket for the contest.

The ruling has heightened tensions within the ruling party as it prepares for the 2027 general election, with the legal battle likely to influence its candidate selection in Imo West.

However, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, the Senior Special Adviser on Creative and Electronic Media to the Imo State Government, has appealed to residents not to panic, describing the judgment as a temporary miscarriage of justice.

Nwaogwugwu maintained that the state government would challenge the decision before the higher courts. He argued that the APC conducted its primary election on May 18 and announced the result before submitting its final list of candidates to INEC on July 1, 2026.

He further stated that Okorocha instituted his legal action on August 13, 2026, more than 40 days after the party submitted its candidate list and nearly 90 days after the primary election.

Citing Section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution, Nwaogwugwu argued that pre-election disputes must be instituted within 14 days of the event, decision or action being challenged.

He insisted that Okorocha’s case was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed period and was therefore statute-barred.

The government aide expressed confidence that the judgment would not withstand scrutiny at the appellate courts, maintaining that the decision would be contested through the appropriate legal channels.

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