A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that Rochas Okorocha, a former Imo State governor, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for Imo West Senatorial District.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday. He ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish Okorocha’s name as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The judge also told Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
Okorocha filed the suit to challenge Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s flagbearer. The case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, also questioned whether a sitting governor is eligible to contest a senatorial election.
The court sided with Okorocha on the primary result. Justice Egwuatu held that the evidence showed Okorocha won the May 18, 2026 APC primary, which INEC monitored.
The court therefore directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate.
The judgment contradicts INEC’s official records. Those records credit Uzodimma with 230,464 votes in the primary, against 1,098 for Okorocha.
The ruling is likely to deepen the dispute over the party’s ticket in Imo West. It is not yet clear whether Uzodimma or the APC will appeal.
This is a developing story.
