A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma’s name as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West senatorial district and to replace him with former governor Rochas Okorocha. The judgment, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, came after the court concluded that Uzodinma did not emerge victorious in the party’s primary held on May 18.
Key facts of the ruling
- The court found documentary and testimonial evidence showing that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast in the APC primary.
- Justice Egwuatu declared that the primary results had been improperly reported and that the correct winner, Okorocha, must be published.
- The judge instructed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC as its official candidate for the 2027 general elections in Imo West.
- The decision was issued ahead of the election timetable set by INEC, which has scheduled presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives polls for 16 January 2027.
What prompted the court’s intervention?
The dispute arose when the APC’s internal election on 18 May produced conflicting reports. While the party’s national secretariat announced Uzodinma as the winner, several party members presented ballot papers and tally sheets indicating that Okorocha had received more votes. The plaintiffs argued that the official result had been altered to favour the sitting governor, a claim the court accepted after reviewing the submitted evidence.
What does the order require the APC to do?
Justice Egwuatu’s judgment mandates the party to submit a revised candidate list to INEC, removing Uzodinma’s name and inserting Okorocha’s. The court also warned that any failure to comply could result in contempt proceedings and further sanctions against the party officials responsible for the alleged manipulation.
Background on the Imo West senatorial seat
Imo West is one of three senatorial districts in Imo State. The seat has been contested fiercely in recent election cycles, with the APC seeking to retain it after losing the district in the 2023 general elections. Governor Uzodinma, who assumed office in 2020, had previously indicated his intention to move to the Senate, prompting the intra‑party contest that led to the present legal battle.
Implications for the 2027 elections
The court’s decision clarifies the APC’s official nominee for Imo West, potentially reshaping the party’s campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 polls. With INEC’s election calendar already published, the revised candidate list will be incorporated into the official ballot, ensuring that voters in Imo West will see Okorocha’s name instead of Uzodinma’s when they head to the polls on 16 January 2027.