APC rejects court ruling, insists Uzodimma is candidate

Abimbola Joseph

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has rejected a Federal High Court ruling recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections, insisting that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its flagbearer.

The party said Uzodimma won its senatorial primary with overwhelming support from members, adding that its legal department would study the judgment before deciding on its next course of action.

The APC’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by its state publicity secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, following the ruling by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate for Imo West ahead of the January 16, 2027 election.

It also directed Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district.

However, the APC maintained that the governor remained its duly nominated candidate, citing the outcome of its primary election.

“The party wishes to state without any confusion that His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, remains the candidate of our party for Imo West Senatorial District, having won the primaries of our great party with the overwhelming support of the majority of our party members,” the statement said.

The party said its legal team would review the court’s decision and determine the appropriate steps to take.

“The party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly,” it added.

The APC also urged its members and supporters to remain united and committed to securing victories across Imo State in the 2027 general elections.

How the dispute started

The dispute followed the APC senatorial primary held on May 18, 2026, in which Uzodimma was declared the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha received 1,098 votes, according to the results recognised by INEC.

Dissatisfied with the outcome, Okorocha approached the court to challenge the primary process and Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate.

In its ruling on Thursday, the court held that Okorocha was the lawful winner of the primary and ordered the APC to submit his name to INEC for publication as its candidate.

The court also questioned inconsistencies in documents the party submitted in support of Uzodimma’s nomination.

Despite the ruling, the APC’s latest statement indicates that the dispute over its Imo West senatorial ticket remains unresolved.