Former Imo State Governor and Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, has taken INEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Governor Hope Uzodinma to the Federal High Court over the 2027 Imo West senatorial ticket.
Okorocha filed the suit on August 13, challenging INEC’s publication of Uzodinma’s name as the APC candidate for the election.
He is asking the court to determine the validity of the APC primary held on May 18 and whether INEC was bound by reports submitted by its officials who monitored the exercise. Okorocha maintains that he won the primary and is challenging the decision to recognise Uzodinma as the party’s candidate.
According to the suit, Okorocha is also questioning Uzodinma’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while still serving as governor, citing Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution. He is asking the court to set aside the publication of Uzodinma’s name and direct INEC to recognise and publish his own name as the APC candidate for Imo West.
“I won the May 18 primary and the outcome was monitored by INEC officials”.
The former governor is also seeking an order restraining Uzodinma from presenting himself as the APC’s candidate for the election.
In an affidavit filed in support of the case, Okorocha’s political aide, Amen Rochas, said the former governor is a registered APC member and maintained that the primary produced him as the winner. The affidavit claimed Okorocha scored 150,780 votes against Uzodinma’s 102,158 votes in the May 18 primary.
It also argued that Uzodinma’s second term as governor runs until January 14, 2028, raising questions over his eligibility to contest the Senate seat in 2027.
The case is now before the Federal High Court for determination.
