The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for January 16, 2027, and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s authentic candidate.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, holding that evidence presented before the court established that Uzodinma did not validly emerge as the winner of the APC senatorial primary election conducted in the district on May 18, 2026.
The court found that Okorocha, who previously governed Imo State and served as a senator representing Imo West, secured the highest number of votes cast during the primary election monitored by INEC.
According to the judge, the evidence before the court showed that Okorocha, rather than Uzodinma, won the primary election and was therefore entitled to be nominated by the APC as its candidate for the senatorial contest.
Consequently, Justice Egwuatu nullified Uzodinma’s emergence as the party’s candidate and ordered INEC to immediately recognise Okorocha as the duly nominated APC candidate for Imo West.
The court also directed the electoral commission to publish Okorocha’s name as the party’s authentic candidate for the January 16, 2027, senatorial election.
In addition, Justice Egwuatu issued an order restraining Governor Uzodinma from presenting himself as the APC candidate for the election.
The judgment effectively replaces Uzodinma with Okorocha as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district, subject to any subsequent appellate decision or order affecting the ruling.
The decision follows the dispute over the outcome of the APC primary election held on May 18, 2026, with the court determining that the evidence established Okorocha’s entitlement to the party’s nomination.
The ruling also places INEC under a judicial directive to recognise and publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate for the election.
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