BREAKING: Court Sacks Uzodinma as APC Candidate, Orders INEC to Recognise Rochas Okorocha

**By Reward Root Blog | October 29, 2026**

A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, ordering the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the rightful candidate.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, ruling that evidence before the court showed that Okorocha, rather than Uzodinma, won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.

The court consequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC for publication as its duly nominated candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027. It also directed Uzodinma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the contest.

## How the Dispute Began

The legal battle followed INEC’s publication of Uzodinma’s name as the winner of the APC primary for Imo West. Okorocha challenged the decision, arguing that the electoral commission’s own monitoring records supported his claim that he had won the exercise.

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, Okorocha asked the court to nullify the publication of Uzodinma’s name and compel INEC to recognise him as the party’s candidate.

According to figures presented by Okorocha’s side, he secured 150,780 votes, while Uzodinma received 102,158 votes. However, the governor’s camp disputed these figures, maintaining that Uzodinma won the primary with 230,464 votes.

The APC and Uzodinma opposed the suit, arguing that it was filed outside the legally prescribed 14-day period for challenging primary election results. INEC also opposed Okorocha’s claims, stating that its report indicated that Uzodinma won the exercise.

Despite these objections, the court ruled in Okorocha’s favour.

## Political Implications

The judgment represents a significant development in the political rivalry between the two influential Imo politicians. Okorocha governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 and represented Imo West in the Senate from 2019 to 2023.

Uzodinma, who became governor in January 2020, is currently serving his second term, which is expected to end in January 2028. His reported ambition to return to the Senate has added further significance to the dispute.

The ruling could also affect calculations surrounding the leadership of the 12th National Assembly, as Uzodinma has been linked to discussions about a possible bid for the Senate presidency. However, any such ambition would depend on securing a Senate seat and the support of fellow senators.

## APC Rejects the Judgment

The Imo State chapter of the APC has rejected the court’s decision and announced plans to take immediate legal action to set it aside. The party insists that Uzodinma remains its legitimate candidate for Imo West and maintains that the primary election was properly conducted.

The dispute may therefore continue through further legal proceedings, potentially leaving the final outcome subject to an appeal.

For now, the Federal High Court’s judgment favours Okorocha, directing INEC to recognise him as the APC’s candidate and barring Uzodinma from claiming the party’s ticket for the Imo West senatorial contest.

**Source:** TheCable, Premium Times and Channels Television.

Views: 1