A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order on Thursday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Okorocha challenging the recognition of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the party’s candidate.
The court also directed Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Justice Egwuatu held that the evidence before the court established that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, which INEC monitored.
Consequently, the judge ordered the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the election.
The dispute followed conflicting claims over the outcome of the party’s primary. INEC’s official results had recognised Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was credited with 1,098 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Okorocha instituted suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma and raising questions about the governor’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while still in office.
The judgment introduces a fresh development in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections in Imo West.
Further details of the court’s reasoning and any subsequent response from the parties were not included in the initial report.
