A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, also directed the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the Janu. 16, 2027 senatorial election.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Okorocha challenging Uzodimma’s recognition as the APC candidate for the district.
Justice Egwuatu held that the evidence presented before the court established that Okorocha won the party’s primary conducted on May 18, 2026, which was monitored by INEC.
The judge consequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to the electoral commission as its candidate for the election.
The dispute arose from conflicting claims over the outcome of the primary, with INEC’s official results listing Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was credited with 1,098 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Okorocha instituted suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.
The former governor also raised questions about Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while serving as governor.