Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has announced plans to challenge a Federal High Court judgement that recognised former governor Rochas Okorocha as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
The governor described Okorocha’s victory in court as temporary, insisting that the ruling would be overturned on appeal.
Uzodimma’s position was communicated by his Chief Press Secretary, Oguike Nwachuku, who described the judgement as a miscarriage of justice.
Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, Nwachuku said the governor would pursue the matter at the Court of Appeal, expressing confidence that the decision would not stand.
The development followed Okorocha’s appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time programme, where the former governor claimed that he remained the dominant political force within the APC in Imo State.
During the interview, Okorocha also questioned the legitimacy of documents submitted in support of Uzodimma’s emergence as the party’s senatorial candidate, alleging irregularities in the conduct and documentation of the primary election.
He maintained that his political structure remained firmly established in the state, declaring that the APC in Imo belonged to him and his supporters.
UZODIMMA’S CAMP DISPUTES OKOROCHA’S CLAIMS
Responding to the allegations, Nwachuku rejected Okorocha’s account and maintained that Uzodimma legitimately won the APC senatorial primary in Imo West.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, the party adopted consensus arrangements in Imo East and Imo North, producing Alex Mbata and Patrick Ndubueze as candidates for the respective districts.
However, he explained that the situation was different in Imo West because Okorocha rejected the consensus arrangement and insisted on contesting against Uzodimma.
Consequently, a direct primary election was conducted across the 12 local government areas in the senatorial district.
Nwachuku claimed that Uzodimma secured 230,464 votes, while Okorocha received 1,098 votes.
He further stated that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present during the exercise, which was supervised by the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee led by its chairman and returning officer, retired Rear Admiral Williams Kayoda.
The governor’s spokesperson argued that the election was properly conducted and accused Okorocha of attempting to undermine the party by disputing its outcome.
He consequently described the former governor as someone pursuing an unrealistic political ambition and working against the interests of the APC.
DISAGREEMENT OVER WHO CONTROLS APC IN IMO
The political disagreement also extends to the leadership structure of the APC in Imo State.
Okorocha had insisted that he remained the party’s most influential political figure in the state, but Uzodimma’s spokesperson dismissed the claim.
Nwachuku argued that the APC’s internal structure recognises sitting governors as leaders of the party in their respective states, while the President serves as its national leader.
He maintained that Uzodimma therefore remains in control of the party’s structure in Imo State.
The spokesperson also accused Okorocha of attempting to treat the party as a personal political organisation rather than respecting its established leadership arrangements.
He further criticised the former governor’s eight-year administration, which lasted from 2011 to 2019, describing it as a family-centred system of government.
Nwachuku also questioned Okorocha’s continued claims of widespread political support in Imo State.
HOW THE COURT JUDGEMENT FAVOURED OKOROCHA
The controversy followed a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, which recognised Okorocha as the validly nominated APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.
The court also directed INEC to recognise him as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
Okorocha had instituted the legal action after challenging INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the winner of the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
Following the judgement, the former governor alleged that documents relating to the primary contained several inconsistencies.
He claimed that documents obtained from INEC on July 26, 2026, differed from those subsequently submitted in support of Uzodimma’s candidacy on August 22.
Among the alleged discrepancies were differences in the stated date of the primary, the description of Uzodimma’s emergence as a consensus candidate and irregularities in the completion of result sheets.
Okorocha also questioned how result sheets covering 144 wards and 12 local government areas could allegedly have been completed by one individual.
He further raised concerns about the certification of documents submitted to support the competing claims.
However, Uzodimma’s camp has rejected the allegations, insisting that the primary election was conducted transparently under the supervision of electoral officials and the APC’s national committee.
The APC has also indicated that it would examine the court’s decision and pursue available legal options.
A DEEPENING POLITICAL RIVALRY
The latest disagreement represents another chapter in the long-running political rivalry between Uzodimma and Okorocha.
Okorocha governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 before representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2019 and 2023.
Uzodimma’s decision to appeal the judgement means the dispute over the APC’s Imo West ticket is likely to continue through the judicial process.
For now, the final determination of who will represent the APC in the senatorial contest remains subject to the outcome of the pending legal battle.
