A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday after ruling that former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, according to the court report.
The judge ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the senatorial election.
The ruling follows a legal battle in which Okorocha challenged INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the APC candidate for Imo West. The dispute centred on conflicting accounts of the outcome of the party’s primary.
Okorocha Challenged Uzodimma’s Nomination
Okorocha had approached the Federal High Court seeking an order setting aside INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate and directing the commission to publish his own name.
The suit also sought to restrain Uzodimma from presenting himself as the APC’s nominated candidate for the election.
The case attracted attention because Uzodimma remains governor of Imo State while seeking the senatorial ticket. The dispute was among the nomination controversies ahead of the 2027 elections, which have also featured in The Bureau Journal’s coverage of APC senatorial candidates across the states.
INEC Had Disputed Document on Primary Results
Before Thursday’s judgment, INEC had disputed a document circulating publicly that purported to show Okorocha as the winner of the APC primary. The commission maintained that the result submitted through the party’s official process identified Uzodimma as the winner.
The competing claims formed part of the legal dispute over which candidate should be recognised for Imo West.
The ruling comes amid wider legal scrutiny of party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of 2027. The Bureau Journal has also examined the legal questions surrounding party membership records and nominations in its report on the Supreme Court’s electoral ruling and its implications for candidates.
Ruling Affects APC’s Imo West Ticket
The order changes the position in the dispute over the APC’s Imo West ticket, directing the party to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC and restraining Uzodimma from continuing to present himself as the party’s candidate.
The development adds to the legal contests shaping party nominations ahead of the next general election. The Bureau Journal’s guide to Nigeria’s 2027 elections and electoral preparations provides further background on the approaching polls.
Other candidate-related disputes have also reached the courts. In a separate case, The Bureau Journal reported on the legal challenge involving Isa Ali Pantami’s eligibility and party nomination in Gombe.
The court’s decision is also relevant to the evolving list of candidates for the National Assembly elections. INEC’s publication of candidates is a central part of the process, as reflected in the commission’s ongoing electoral preparations and voter information activities. Voters can consult The Bureau Journal’s report on INEC’s online publication of the preliminary voter register for the 2027 elections.
Further details of the judgment, including the court’s full reasoning and any subsequent steps by the APC, Uzodimma or INEC, are awaited.
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