Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
The court directed the electoral commission to replace Uzodinma’s name with that of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, ruling that Okorocha won the party’s senatorial primary held on May 18.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday after considering the dispute over the outcome of the APC primary election.
The judge held that the evidence presented before the court showed that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the exercise.
Egwuatu consequently ordered the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election.
The ruling followed a legal battle initiated by Okorocha, who challenged INEC’s recognition of Uzodinma as the APC’s candidate for the 2027 election.
In the suit, the former governor argued that the electoral commission should recognise him as the rightful winner of the primary and publish his name accordingly.
Uzodinma, the APC and INEC opposed the suit. The governor and the party had asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that it was filed outside the 14-day period allowed by law for pre-election matters.
The dispute centred on conflicting claims over the primary election results and the validity of Uzodinma’s nomination.
The court’s order places Okorocha in line to represent the APC in the contest for the Imo West Senate seat, subject to the implementation of the judgment and any further legal developments.