The battle for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Imo West Senatorial District has taken a dramatic turn, with a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu directed Uzodimma to desist from parading himself as the APC’s senatorial candidate and ordered the party to recognise former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the rightful winner of its primary election.
The decision has opened a new chapter in the political contest between two prominent figures whose interests have now collided over the same senatorial ticket.
For Uzodimma, the ruling presents a challenge to his ambition to represent Imo West in the Senate. For Okorocha, it represents a significant legal victory in his bid to secure the party’s nomination for the contest.
But beyond the immediate courtroom outcome lies a bigger question: who truly controls the APC’s ticket for Imo West, and how will the party resolve the dispute ahead of the 2027 elections?
How The Court Ruled Against Uzodimma
At the centre of the dispute is the APC senatorial primary held on May 18, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In its decision, the court held that the evidence presented before it showed that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the primary.
Justice Egwuatu consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name as its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election.
The judge also ordered Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the contest scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to the report.
The ruling places the party’s nomination process under renewed scrutiny and raises questions about how the APC will manage the competing claims to its ticket.
Okorocha’s Legal Victory Meets APC’s Resistance
The court’s decision, however, has not ended the controversy.
Before the ruling, the Imo State chapter of the APC had publicly maintained that Uzodimma remained its candidate, dismissing reports of his replacement as unverified.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, said Uzodimma had won the primary with overwhelming support from party members.
The party also announced that its legal department would examine the outcome of the court proceedings before determining its next course of action.
That position sets up a crucial test for the APC: how will it reconcile its public defence of Uzodimma’s candidacy with a court judgment directing it to recognise Okorocha?
The party’s response will be important in determining the next phase of the dispute, particularly as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
Two Political Heavyweights, One Senatorial Ticket
The dispute has brought the political interests of Uzodimma and Okorocha into direct conflict over who should carry the APC flag in Imo West.
Uzodimma, the sitting governor of Imo State, has been presented by the state chapter of the party as its preferred candidate for the senatorial contest.
Okorocha, a former governor of the state, has now secured a court ruling recognising him as the winner of the disputed primary.
The development creates a difficult situation for the APC, which must navigate the legal implications of the judgment while managing the competing interests surrounding the ticket.
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It also raises questions about the conduct and documentation of the party’s primary election, given that the court’s decision was based on its assessment of the evidence before it.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on the APC’s response to the judgment and whether the party will take further legal steps.
The party has already said its legal department will study the outcome of the proceedings. Until the next steps become clear, the dispute is likely to remain a major issue in the political contest over Imo West.
The ruling does not remove Uzodimma from his position as governor of Imo State. Rather, it concerns his claim to the APC’s senatorial ticket and the party’s nomination for the 2027 election.
For Okorocha, the judgment offers a route towards securing the nomination, subject to any further legal developments. For Uzodimma and the APC leadership in Imo State, it raises a challenge that cannot be settled by simply dismissing reports of the ruling.
Ultimately, the dispute is about more than two politicians competing for a Senate seat. It is also a test of the party’s internal electoral process, its response to judicial decisions and its ability to manage a high-profile nomination battle without allowing the controversy to overshadow its preparations for 2027.