Court Removes Uzodimma as APC's Imo West Candidate, Names Okorocha

The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West in the 2027 elections. The court has replaced him with Rochas Okorocha.

In a ruling on Thursday, Judge Obiora Egwuatu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to list Mr Okorocha as the officially nominated candidate of the APC for the upcoming senatorial election.

According to The Punch, the judge instructed Mr Uzodimma, who heads the Progressive Governors Forum, not to act as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.

The judge made this ruling in response to a suit filed by Mr Okorocha, who challenged Mr Uzodimma’s nomination.

The judge stated that the evidence presented by Mr Okorocha proved that he won the APC primary election on May 18, which was monitored by INEC, and not Mr Uzodimma.

Mr Uzodimma has the option to appeal this ruling, and the case may eventually be taken to the Supreme Court for a final decision.

Mr Okorocha was a senator for the Imo West district from June 2019 to June 2023 during the 9th Nigerian Senate. He was elected after serving as governor for eight years from May 2011 to May 2019.

His effort to return to the Senate has reignited the long-standing rivalry with Mr Uzodimma. Mr Uzodimma became governor through a disputed Supreme Court ruling in January 2020, despite Mr Okorocha supporting another candidate.

Mr Uzodimma is currently in his second and final four-year term as governor, which ends in January 2028. If he wins the senatorial election, he will have to resign as governor and give up the last six months of his term to take the Senate seat.