A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday removed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as APC’s Imo West senatorial candidate and ordered INEC to recognise former governor Rochas Okorocha instead.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that Okorocha, not Uzodimma, won the party’s 18 May primary, according to Punch’s court report.
The court also barred Uzodimma from presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the 16 January 2027 election. The ruling set aside INEC’s 1 August publication of his name.
Okorocha brought the suit after INEC recognised Uzodimma on the basis of the declared primary results. He argued that the outcome announced in the governor’s favour did not reflect the election monitored by the commission.
Egwuatu said the commission’s monitoring report supported Okorocha’s claim to have won the most lawful votes. He held that Uzodimma’s nomination breached Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act and the party’s primary-election guidelines.
The judge directed APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC and ordered the commission to replace Uzodimma on its candidate list.
Sources: Punch; Daily Trust
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