Court Declares Okorocha Winner of APC Imo West Primary, Bars Uzodimma From Claiming Ticket

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West Senatorial District, ordering the party to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the 2027 election.

The court also ordered the incumbent Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop parading himself as the APC candidate for the senatorial district ahead of the election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment after ruling that Uzodimma did not win the APC primary conducted on May 18, 2026, which was monitored by INEC.

The judge held that evidence presented before the court established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the primary and was therefore entitled to be recognised as the lawful winner.

Consequently, the court directed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC for publication as the party’s candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

The ruling represents a significant development in the political contest between the two prominent Imo politicians over the party’s senatorial ticket.

The dispute followed the APC primary held on May 18, 2026, during which Uzodimma was declared the winner by the party leadership.

According to results previously reported by the party, Uzodimma polled 230,464 votes, while Okorocha received 1,098 votes.

However, Okorocha challenged the outcome in court, disputing the declaration of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate and seeking judicial recognition as the lawful winner of the primary.

In its judgment, the court ruled in Okorocha’s favour, directing the party to recognise him as its candidate and submit his name to the electoral commission.

The decision places the APC before an important legal and political challenge as it prepares for the 2027 elections.

Uzodimma, who currently governs Imo State, had sought the party’s ticket to represent Imo West in the Senate, while Okorocha, a former governor of the state, challenged the outcome of the primary through the judicial process.

The judgment is expected to generate further political reactions within the Imo APC, particularly among supporters of the two politicians.

The party’s position on the ruling will be crucial to determining the next steps in the dispute and the process leading to the finalisation of its senatorial nomination.

The case also underscores the importance of compliance with party nomination procedures and the role of the judiciary in resolving disputes arising from political primaries.

Further details of the court’s judgment and any subsequent legal steps by the parties are expected to emerge.