The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday, ruling that evidence presented before the court indicated that former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha secured the majority of votes in the APC senatorial primary.
The judge said the evidence did not support Uzodimma’s claim to victory in the contest and held that Okorocha should be recognised as the winner of the primary.
Okorocha governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 before Uzodimma succeeded him.
The dispute arose from a suit filed by Okorocha in August, challenging the process through which Uzodimma was declared the APC candidate for the senatorial district.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, sought the court’s determination on whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was obligated to rely on reports submitted by its officials who monitored the APC primary held on May 18.
Okorocha also questioned the legality of INEC publishing Uzodimma’s name as the winner of the exercise, citing Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution.
The provision states: “The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”
On that basis, the former governor asked the court to declare that INEC acted unconstitutionally by recognising Uzodimma as the party’s candidate despite his allegation that the governor did not win the primary.
In May, Williams Kayode, chairman and returning officer of the committee responsible for the 2026 Imo APC National Assembly primary, had announced Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes.
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However, Okorocha challenged that declaration, maintaining that the results recorded by the officials who monitored the exercise showed that he had obtained the highest number of votes.
Uzodimma began his second term as Imo governor in January 2024, with his tenure scheduled to end in January 2028.
The 11th National Assembly is expected to be inaugurated in June 2027, more than six months before the expiration of the governor’s current term.
The dispute therefore centres not only on the outcome of the APC primary but also on the constitutional question raised by Okorocha concerning Uzodimma’s bid for a Senate seat while still serving as governor.