Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the recognition of Governor Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
Okorocha listed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Uzodimma and the APC as defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.
The former governor, through his counsel, O.J. Aboje, filed the originating summons on August 13, 2026.
Okorocha, who governed Imo State between 2011 and 2019 and represented Imo West in the Senate from 2019 to 2023, is disputing the outcome of the APC senatorial primary held in May.
At the primary, Williams Kayode, chairman and returning officer of the 2026 Imo APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, declared Uzodimma the winner with 230,464 votes.
However, Okorocha is asking the court to determine whether INEC was not legally required to rely on the reports submitted by its officials who monitored the APC primary conducted on May 18.
He is also questioning the legality of INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name as the winner of the contest.
In his case, Okorocha relied on Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that: “The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”
The former governor is seeking a declaration that it was unconstitutional for INEC to list Uzodimma as the APC’s senatorial candidate, arguing that he did not win the primary election.
He further asked the court to nullify INEC’s publication identifying Uzodimma as the aspirant who secured the highest number of votes at the primary.
Okorocha also wants an order compelling INEC to recognise and publish his name as the APC’s duly nominated candidate for the Imo West senatorial election.
In addition, he is asking the court to restrain Uzodimma, either personally or through the APC or any other person, from presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the election.
The affidavit supporting the suit was sworn to by Amen Rochas, the former governor’s son.
According to the affidavit, Uzodimma’s tenure as governor would still be running when the Senate elected in 2027 is inaugurated.
It alleged that despite this, Uzodimma obtained the nomination forms to participate in the APC senatorial contest.
The affidavit further claimed that the direct primary held by the APC on May 18 produced Okorocha as the winner, with 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma was said to have polled 102,158 votes.
The legal challenge comes against the backdrop of uncertainty over how Uzodimma would combine the governorship with a senatorial mandate if he eventually wins the 2027 election.
Uzodimma began his second term as Imo governor in January 2024, with his tenure expected to end in January 2028. The 11th National Assembly, however, is scheduled to be inaugurated in June 2027, several months before the expiration of his tenure.
(The CABLE)
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