RismadarVoice Reporters
October 29, 2026
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declared former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish Okorocha’s name as the party’s candidate.
The court also directed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to the electoral commission and ordered incumbent Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The judgment followed a legal challenge instituted by Okorocha over the outcome of the APC primary election conducted on May 18, 2026.
Justice Egwuatu held that the evidence presented before the court established that Okorocha emerged victorious in the primary election monitored by INEC.
The dispute arose after Uzodimma was initially declared the winner of the contest with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was credited with 1,098 votes.
Okorocha subsequently challenged the outcome in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, questioning the recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.
He also raised constitutional concerns about the governor’s eligibility to contest a National Assembly election while still serving as governor.
The controversy intensified earlier in October when INEC’s Imo State office petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force over a disputed primary election document identifying Okorocha as the winner.
The electoral commission maintained at the time that its official report recognised Uzodimma as the successful candidate, while describing the conflicting document as fraudulent.
However, Thursday’s judgment upheld Okorocha’s claim and directed the relevant authorities to recognise him as the party’s candidate.
The decision represents a significant development in the contest for the Imo West senatorial ticket, which had generated disagreements within the APC.
It also places responsibility on the party and INEC to comply with the court’s directives, subject to any further judicial proceedings.
As of the time of this report, there was no confirmed announcement on whether Uzodimma or the APC would challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The ruling concerns the APC’s candidate nomination and does not determine the eventual winner of the 2027 senatorial election.
