By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified Hope Uzodinma’s nomination as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate.
The court, presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruled on Thursday that INEC’s publication of Uzodinma’s name as the APC senatorial candidate was unlawful and should be set aside.
It consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC and ordered the electoral commission to replace Uzodinma’s name with that of the former governor.
The ruling followed a legal challenge by Okorocha over the outcome of the APC primary election held on May 18, 2026, for the Imo West Senatorial District seat.
Okorocha had challenged the emergence of Uzodinma as the party’s candidate, insisting that he won the primary election.
The court upheld his position, ruling that Okorocha won the exercise, contrary to the result previously announced in favour of Uzodinma.
The judgment also raises questions about Uzodinma’s bid to move from the Imo State Government House to the Senate ahead of the 2027 general elections, as his current tenure as governor is expected to end in January 2028.
The ruling, however, concerns the APC’s senatorial nomination for Imo West and does not remove Uzodinma from office as governor of Imo State.
