Key Takeaways
- Justice Obiora Egwuatu of Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday Oct 29, 2026 ordered Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma to stop parading himself as APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial election slated for Jan 16, 2027.
- Court held Uzodinma did not win May 18 primary conducted by APC and monitored by INEC — evidence proved former Governor Rochas Okorocha won majority of votes cast.
- Judge ordered APC to forward Okorocha’s name as candidate of APC in 2027 general elections for Imo West Senatorial election.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, to immediately stop presenting himself as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo West Senatorial election slated for January 16, 2027.
Justice Egwuatu issued the order after holding that Uzodinma did not win the May 18 primary election conducted by the APC and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Delivering judgment, the Judge held that the evidence presented before the court proved that former governor Rochas Okorocha actually won the majority of the votes cast at the poll and should be declared the winner of the election.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name as the candidate of the APC in the 2027 general elections for the Imo West Senatorial election.
The judgment, delivered on October 29, 2026, comes barely three months to the presidential and National Assembly elections fixed by INEC for January 16, 2027, and is expected to deepen the long-standing political rivalry between Uzodinma and Okorocha in Imo State.
Both men, former governors and chieftains of the APC in Imo, have been locked in a battle for control of the party structure in the state since 2019, with disputes over governorship, senatorial tickets and party executive positions.
Imo West Senatorial District, also known as Orlu Zone, is considered the most politically influential zone in Imo State, producing a large bloc of votes in every election cycle.
Efforts to get a reaction from Governor Uzodinma or the APC National Working Committee as of the time of filing this report were unsuccessful, with Channels Television noting that more details would follow.
