A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.
The court also ordered the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the directives while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by Okorocha, challenging Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s flagbearer.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu said the evidence presented before the court showed that Okorocha emerged victorious in the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, which was monitored by INEC.
The judge subsequently directed the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to the electoral commission as its candidate for the forthcoming election.
The legal battle stemmed from conflicting claims surrounding the outcome of the party’s primary election. INEC’s official results had earlier listed Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was recorded as having secured 1,098 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Okorocha approached the court through suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging INEC’s decision to recognise Uzodimma as the APC candidate.
He also questioned the governor’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while still occupying the office of governor.
