Former Imo State Governor and Senator Rochas Okorocha has taken legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the nomination of Governor Hope Uzodinma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election in 2027.
Okorocha filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging INEC’s publication of Uzodinma’s name as the APC candidate for the senatorial election.
The former governor also joined Uzodinma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as respondents in the case filed through his counsel, O.J. Aboje.
The originating summons, filed on Aug. 13, is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.
Okorocha challenges APC primary result
In the suit, Okorocha is asking the court to determine whether INEC can disregard reports submitted by its officials who monitored the APC primary election conducted on May 18.
He claims that he won the primary and should therefore be recognised as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the Imo West senatorial contest.
Okorocha is also asking the court to determine whether INEC was right to publish Uzodinma’s name as the APC candidate, particularly in view of the constitutional provisions cited in his application.
According to the former governor, INEC’s publication of Uzodinma’s name was unlawful because, in his account, Uzodinma did not emerge as the winner of the May 18 primary.
Former governor seeks 10 court orders
Okorocha has asked the court for several reliefs, including an order cancelling INEC’s publication of Uzodinma as the APC candidate.
He is also asking the court to direct INEC to recognise and publish his name as the party’s legitimate candidate for the 2027 Imo West senatorial election.
Another relief seeks to prevent Uzodinma, the APC or anyone acting on their behalf from presenting him as the party’s nominated candidate for the election.
Okorocha is further asking the court to award costs against the respondents.
Okorocha claims victory at May primary
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Amen Rochas, who identified himself as Okorocha’s biological son and Personal Assistant on Political Matters, said he was familiar with the circumstances surrounding the dispute.
He stated that Okorocha is a registered and financial member of the APC.
The affidavit also addressed Uzodinma’s tenure as governor of Imo State. It stated that the governor was sworn in for his second term on Jan. 15, 2024, and that his tenure would run until midnight of Jan. 14, 2028.
The affidavit further claimed that Uzodinma had purchased the expression-of-interest and nomination forms to contest the senatorial seat.
According to the applicant’s account, the APC conducted a direct primary on May 18, with Okorocha emerging as the winner.
The affidavit put Okorocha’s alleged score at 150,780 votes, against 102,158 votes recorded for Uzodinma.
The suit therefore seeks judicial determination of who should be recognised as the APC candidate for the 2027 Imo West Senatorial District election.
