Former Imo State Governor wey dey serve as Senator for Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, don carry Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Governor Hope Uzodinma go Federal High Court. The matter na about Uzodinma name wey INEC publish as APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District election wey go hold for 2027.
Okorocha file the suit on August 13, 2026, through im lawyer, O. J. Aboje. The suit wey dem mark as FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026 get five questions wey the court need answer, and ten reliefs wey Okorocha dey demand.
The former governor dey challenge the publication of Uzodinma name. Im say na im win the APC primary wey dem conduct on May 18 to choose the party candidate for the senatorial seat. According to Okorocha, INEC no suppose publish Uzodinma as candidate because e no win the primary.
Okorocha want court to decide whether INEC be bound by the reports wey im officials wey monitor the primary submit. E also dey ask whether the commission fit publish Uzodinma name even when the outcome of the primary wey dem monitor no support am. Plus, im dey question if Uzodinma fit be APC candidate while e still dey serve as governor, based on Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution wey dem amend.
Okorocha dey seek declaration say INEC publication of Uzodinma name no be correct because e no win the May 18 primary. Im dey ask court make e set aside that publication, and direct INEC to recognize and publish im name as the duly nominated APC candidate for the 2027 Imo West senatorial election. The former governor still want court to stop Uzodinma from presenting imself as the party candidate, and make Uzodinma pay the cost of the case.
For one affidavit wey dem file support the suit, Amen Rochas, wey describe imself as Okorocha biological son and im Personal Assistant on Political Matters, talk say im know the facts of the matter. According to the affidavit, Okorocha be registered and card-carrying member of APC, and dem born am on September 22, 1962. Amen also explain say Uzodinma tenure as governor go expire at midnight on January 14, 2028, because e take oath for second term on January 15, 2024. So im argue say Uzodinma tenure still dey run when the Senate wey dem go elect for 2027 take office, but the governor still buy expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the senatorial seat.
The affidavit further allege say the APC National Working Committee direct make dem forward the primary result to the party national secretariat for announcement. Amen claim say dem conduct the direct primary on May 18, and Okorocha emerge winner with 150,780 votes, while Uzodinma score 102,158 votes.
