By Our Correspondent
The race for the 2027 Imo West Senatorial seat has taken a dramatic turn following a legal challenge by former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha against Governor Hope Uzodimma’s candidacy under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okorocha has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking the court to examine the APC primary election that produced Uzodimma as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district.
The suit, filed on August 13, 2026, also has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC as defendants. The case is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.
At the centre of the dispute is an APC primary election allegedly conducted on May 18. Okorocha claims that he won the exercise and is questioning the decision to forward Uzodimma’s name to INEC.
In the court documents, Okorocha claims he secured 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma allegedly received 102,158 votes.
The former governor is asking the court to declare INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate unlawful.
He is also asking the court to direct INEC to recognise and publish his name as the party’s candidate for the Imo West senatorial election.
In addition, Okorocha wants the court to stop Uzodimma from presenting himself as the APC candidate for the election, either personally or through the party.
The lawsuit has introduced a fresh dispute into the APC’s preparations for the 2027 election and could lead to intense political activity within the party in Imo State.
The case is now before the Federal High Court, and the claims made by Okorocha are yet to be determined by the court.
Attention will now turn to the legal proceedings as the parties present their arguments and evidence.
Whatever decision the court reaches could determine who ultimately represents the APC in the Imo West senatorial contest in 2027.
