The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has maintained that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, despite a Federal High Court judgment recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the winner of the party’s primary.
The party made its position known in a statement issued on Thursday by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, following the judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Okorocha as the APC candidate for Imo West and publish his name accordingly. It also restrained Uzodimma from presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
However, the Imo APC insisted that Uzodimma secured the party’s ticket through its primary election, claiming that he enjoyed overwhelming support from party members.
The statement said the party’s position on the governorship’s senatorial candidacy remained unchanged, adding that its legal department would study the judgment before deciding on the next course of action.
The APC also urged its members and supporters to remain focused and committed to the party’s electoral preparations across Imo State.
Background to the Dispute
The dispute centres on the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, for the Imo West Senatorial District.
Uzodimma was declared winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was recorded as having secured 1,098 votes in the results recognised by INEC.
Okorocha subsequently challenged the outcome in court, disputing the governor’s recognition as the party’s candidate. He argued that INEC was required to rely on reports submitted by its officials who monitored the primary election.
In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu held that the evidence before the court established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes in the primary. The judge consequently directed the APC to forward his name to INEC as its candidate.
The court’s decision has created a dispute between the party’s position and the judicial directive ahead of the 2027 senatorial election, with the APC indicating that it would review the judgment before taking further legal steps.
