Okorocha Moves To Nullify Uzodinma’s APC Imo West Senate Candidacy

• Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has approached the Federal High Court seeking to nullify the Independent National Electoral Commission’s publication of Governor Hope Uzodinma as the APC candidate for the 2027 Imo West Senatorial District election.

• Okorocha is challenging the outcome recognised by INEC, claiming he won the APC direct primary conducted on May 18, 2026, with 150,780 votes against Uzodinma’s 102,158 votes.

• The former governor is also asking the court to determine whether Uzodinma is constitutionally eligible to contest the senatorial election while his second term as Imo governor remains in force.

• Okorocha wants the court to set aside Uzodinma’s candidacy, compel INEC to recognise him as the APC’s duly nominated candidate and restrain the governor from presenting himself as the party’s candidate.

August 20, () — Former Imo State Governor and Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, has moved to stop Governor Hope Uzodinma’s bid to represent the senatorial district in 2027, asking the Federal High Court to nullify the governor’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

Okorocha is challenging the publication of Uzodinma’s name by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the APC candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for 2027.

reports that the former governor, through his lawyer, O.J. Aboje, filed the suit on August 13, 2026. Marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, the suit raised five questions for determination and 10 reliefs sought against INEC, the APC and Uzodinma.

Okorocha Challenges APC Primary Result

At the centre of the legal battle is the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026. Okorocha is insisting that he won the primary and should therefore be recognised as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Amen Rochas, who described himself as Okorocha’s biological son and Personal Assistant on Political Matters, said he was familiar with the facts and circumstances of the case.

According to the affidavit, Okorocha is a registered and card-carrying member of the APC.

Amen alleged that the APC conducted a direct primary on May 18 and that Okorocha emerged as the winner with 150,780 votes, while Uzodinma scored 102,158 votes. He further claimed that the APC National Working Committee directed that the result of the primary be forwarded to the party’s national secretariat for announcement.

Okorocha is asking the court to determine whether INEC was bound by reports submitted by its officials who monitored the primary. He also wants the court to determine whether the electoral commission could validly publish Uzodinma’s name despite the outcome of the primary allegedly recorded and monitored by its officials.

The former governor is consequently seeking a declaration that INEC’s publication of Uzodinma’s name as the APC candidate is unconstitutional and invalid because, according to him, the governor did not win the May 18 primary.

Governor’s Eligibility Under Challenge

Beyond the disputed primary, Okorocha has raised a constitutional question over Uzodinma’s eligibility to contest the Senate election while still serving as governor of Imo State. He is asking the court to determine whether, having regard to Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Uzodinma can be published as the APC’s senatorial candidate while his tenure as governor remains ongoing.

The affidavit stated that Uzodinma was sworn in for his second term on January 15, 2024, and that his tenure would expire at midnight on January 14, 2028. It argued that the governor’s tenure would therefore still be running when the Senate elected in the 2027 general election is inaugurated.

Amen further alleged that Uzodinma nevertheless purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the Imo West senatorial seat.

The suit is therefore asking the court to determine the constitutional implications of Uzodinma seeking the senatorial seat while still serving as governor.

Reliefs Sought

Okorocha is asking the court to declare that INEC’s publication of Uzodinma as the APC candidate for Imo West is invalid and unconstitutional. He is also seeking an order setting aside the publication and directing INEC to recognise and publish his name as the APC’s duly nominated candidate for the 2027 Imo West Senatorial District election.

The former governor further wants the court to restrain Uzodinma, whether personally or through the APC or any other person, from presenting himself as the party’s nominated candidate for the election.

He is also seeking an order awarding costs against the respondents.