Odinkalu Reacts As Court Sacks Uzodinma As APC Imo West Senatorial Candidate, Declares Okorocha

Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has reacted to a Federal High Court judgment concerning the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Imo West ahead of the January 16, 2027, general election.

The court reportedly ruled in favour of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha in the dispute over the party’s senatorial primary, disqualifying the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma, from contesting the election on the APC platform.

The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who directed Uzodinma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate after finding that he had not emerged victorious in the primary conducted on May 18.

Details of the ruling shared by Odinkalu indicated that the court considered evidence showing that Okorocha secured the highest number of votes during the APC primary, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The decision represents a significant development in the contest for the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket, given the political influence of both men and the disagreements that have surrounded the party’s primary election.

Reacting to the judgment, Odinkalu raised questions about whether the legal battle might be connected to a wider political struggle involving the Rainbow Coalition and APC governors.

In a post on social media, the lawyer wrote, “Why does this feel like #ProxyWar between #RainbowCoalition vs. @OfficialAPCNg Governors?”

His remark has drawn attention to the possible political implications of the dispute, particularly as the APC prepares for the 2027 elections. However, Odinkalu’s comment was a question about the broader political context and does not, by itself, establish that the court case was part of a coordinated political confrontation.

Under the reported judgment, the APC is expected to recognise Okorocha as its candidate and submit his name to INEC for the Imo West senatorial election, subject to the applicable legal processes and any further developments in the case.

The dispute has been complicated by earlier statements attributed to INEC’s Imo State office. In October, the commission reportedly maintained that its authentic report identified Uzodinma as the winner of the party’s primary. INEC also reportedly contacted security agencies over a separate document that allegedly named Okorocha as the winner.

The commission’s earlier position and the latest court ruling have therefore created a fresh point of contention over the outcome of the primary election. While INEC’s reported account favoured Uzodinma, the court’s findings, as described in the available report, supported Okorocha’s claim to the ticket.

The disagreement has also raised questions about the documentation of party primaries, the role of electoral officials in monitoring internal party elections and the authority of the courts to resolve disputes over candidates nominated by political parties.

For the APC, the ruling could have implications for its preparations in Imo West, where the outcome of the dispute will determine which of the two prominent politicians represents the party in the senatorial contest. Any appeal or subsequent legal proceedings could, however, influence how the matter is ultimately resolved.

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