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Imo APC Rejects Court Ruling Recognising Okorocha, Insists Uzodimma Remains Party’s 2027 Senatorial Candidate
Imo APC Rejects Court Ruling Recognising Okorocha, Insists Uzodimma Remains Party’s 2027 Senatorial Candidate
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has rejected a Federal High Court ruling recognising former Governor Rochas Okorocha as its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, insisting that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains the party’s duly nominated flagbearer.
The party’s position sets the stage for a potentially prolonged legal and political battle over the APC’s senatorial ticket in Imo West, as the conflicting claims threaten to complicate preparations for the January 16, 2027, senatorial election.
The APC maintained that Uzodimma secured the party’s ticket through its senatorial primary election, which it said was conducted in accordance with the party’s internal electoral process and supported by an overwhelming majority of its members. The party’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, in reaction to the judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In its ruling, the court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections. The court also ordered Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial contest, a decision that directly challenges the position maintained by the APC leadership in the state.
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However, the party has refused to accept the ruling as the final word on its choice of candidate, reaffirming its support for Uzodimma based on the outcome of the primary election.
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“The Party wishes to state without any confusion that His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, remains the candidate of our Party for Imo West Senatorial District, having won the primaries of our great Party with the overwhelming support of the majority of our Party members,” the statement said.
Despite its firm position, the APC disclosed that its legal department would review the judgment before deciding on the appropriate steps to take in response to the court’s intervention.
“The Party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly,” it added.
The party also appealed to its members and supporters to remain united and focused on its political objectives, urging them to continue working towards electoral victories across Imo State in 2027 despite the unfolding controversy surrounding the senatorial ticket.
The dispute centres on the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, during which Uzodimma was declared the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was credited with 1,098 votes, according to the results recognised by INEC. Dissatisfied with the outcome, Okorocha challenged the process in court, contesting the validity of the primary and the recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate for the district. Following its consideration of the case, the Federal High Court ruled on Thursday that Okorocha was the lawful winner of the primary and directed the APC to forward his name to INEC for publication as its candidate.
The court also raised questions over inconsistencies in documents submitted by the party in support of Uzodimma’s nomination, adding another dimension to the dispute over the legitimacy of the party’s senatorial ticket. The judgment has consequently placed the APC in Imo State in a delicate position, with the party publicly maintaining its support for Uzodimma while its legal department considers the implications of the court’s decision.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the outcome of the dispute could prove significant for the APC’s preparations in Imo West, a senatorial district at the centre of an increasingly high-profile contest involving a sitting governor and a former governor.
For now, the APC leadership in Imo State insists that Uzodimma remains its preferred candidate, while the court’s ruling has recognised Okorocha as the lawful winner of the disputed primary. The next steps taken by the party’s legal team, as well as any further judicial proceedings, are likely to determine how the controversy is ultimately resolved.
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