By Folayimika Akanbi
The preparation of the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to run for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 election suffered a setback on Thursday as a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish the name of his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the senatorial poll.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu also ordered Uzodimma to stop parading himself as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
The judge gave the orders in his judgment on a suit Okorocha instituted, challenging Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate.
Justice Egwuatu held that evidence before the court established that Okorocha won the May 18, 2026 APC primary election, which INEC monitored.
The court consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the election.
The dispute followed conflicting claims over the outcome of the party’s primary, with INEC’s official results recognising Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes, against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.
Okorocha challenged the outcome in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, questioning INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma and raising issues concerning the governor’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while in office.
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