A major legal dispute has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections after a Federal High Court in Abuja removed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the party’s candidate for Imo West Senatorial District and declared former governor Rochas Okorocha the winner of its senatorial primary.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following a suit filed by Okorocha to challenge the recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s flagbearer. The court held that evidence presented during the proceedings established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes in the primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
The judge subsequently directed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027. He also ordered Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the district.
The decision has introduced fresh uncertainty into the APC’s preparations for the forthcoming elections, particularly as the dispute involves two prominent political figures with significant political histories in Imo State.
Court Explains Decision in APC Imo West Senatorial Candidate Dispute
The legal battle began after the APC recognised Uzodimma as its candidate for Imo West, despite Okorocha’s claim that he had won the party’s primary election.
Okorocha approached the Federal High Court in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, asking the court to examine the validity of the governor’s nomination and INEC’s decision to publish his name as the party’s candidate.
The former governor argued that the electoral commission’s monitoring records supported his claim of victory. He maintained that the APC had failed to recognise the actual outcome of the primary and had instead forwarded Uzodimma’s name to INEC.
The dispute also involved conflicting accounts of the election results. Figures contained in the result recognised by INEC credited Uzodimma with 230,464 votes and Okorocha with 1,098 votes, while Okorocha challenged the validity of that outcome.
The APC, Uzodimma and INEC opposed the suit. They questioned the authenticity of documents presented by Okorocha and argued that he filed his case outside the constitutionally permitted 14-day period for pre-election matters.
However, Justice Egwuatu rejected the objection to the court’s jurisdiction. He held that the dispute arose when INEC published Uzodimma’s name on August 1, rather than when the primary took place in May.
The judge also examined the documents presented by both sides. He found inconsistencies in the records submitted to support Uzodimma’s nomination and concluded that Okorocha had won the primary.
The court consequently ruled that replacing Okorocha’s name with Uzodimma’s was unlawful. It directed the APC and INEC to recognise the former governor as the party’s duly nominated candidate.
APC Rejects Judgment as Uzodimma-Okorocha Dispute Continues
Following the judgment, the Imo State chapter of the APC rejected the decision and insisted that Uzodimma remains its authentic candidate for Imo West.
In a statement issued by its chairman, Austin Onyedebelu, the party questioned the court’s handling of the evidence and raised concerns about the constitutional issues surrounding the case.
The APC also maintained that the documents used to support Okorocha’s claim did not originate from recognised party or electoral commission records. It said its legal team would examine the judgment and consider available legal options.
Meanwhile, Okorocha welcomed the ruling, describing it as an important development for democracy and the rule of law. The former governor also expressed appreciation for the support he received during the legal battle.
Okorocha governed Imo State between 2011 and 2019 before representing Imo West in the Senate from 2019 to 2023. His latest bid to return to the National Assembly has now become a major issue in the state’s political landscape.
Uzodimma, who is serving his second term as governor, also faces an important political decision if he intends to pursue the senatorial position. His current tenure is expected to end in January 2028, while the next Senate is scheduled to begin its work in June 2027.
The court’s decision therefore places the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket at the centre of another political and legal contest ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Whether the party accepts the ruling or pursues an appeal could determine the next stage of the dispute, while INEC’s eventual compliance with the court’s orders will remain important to the nomination process.