The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, despite a Federal High Court judgment recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s validly nominated candidate.

The party’s position sets the stage for a fresh legal and political battle over the APC’s senatorial ticket following the judgment delivered in Abuja on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

In a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the APC maintained that Uzodimma won the party’s senatorial primary and secured the nomination with the support of the majority of its members.

“The party wishes to state without any confusion that His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, remains the candidate of our party for Imo West Senatorial District, having won the primaries of our great party with the overwhelming support of the majority of our party members,” the statement said.

The party, however, indicated that it would examine the court’s decision before determining its next course of action.

“The party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly,” it added.

The APC also urged its members and supporters to remain focused and committed to securing victory for the party across the state in the 2027 elections.

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The party’s declaration came hours after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate for Imo West and recognise Okorocha instead.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment, held that the evidence presented before the court established that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.

The judge consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the senatorial district and ordered the electoral commission to publish his name.

Uzodimma was also ordered to stop presenting himself as the APC’s candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

The dispute followed Okorocha’s legal challenge to INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the winner of the party’s primary.

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, Okorocha questioned the electoral commission’s decision to publish Uzodimma’s name despite his claim that the primary election results and monitoring records showed that he had won.

Okorocha filed the case on August 13, 2026, seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise him as the party’s duly nominated candidate.

During the proceedings, Uzodimma, the APC and INEC opposed the suit, presenting arguments and evidence in support of the governor’s nomination.

The governor’s camp maintained that Uzodimma won the primary election, with a representative of the party’s election committee claiming that he secured 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.

Okorocha’s camp, however, presented a different account of the primary election, including documents it said supported his claim to the ticket.

After considering the evidence before it, the court ruled in favour of the former governor.

Okorocha, who governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019, previously represented Imo West in the Senate between 2019 and 2023. His latest bid to return to the National Assembly has revived his longstanding political rivalry with Uzodimma.

Uzodimma, who is serving his second and final term as governor, is seeking to secure the APC ticket for the senatorial district ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party’s insistence that he remains its candidate, despite the court’s orders, leaves the dispute at a critical stage as the APC considers its legal options.

The final outcome could determine who represents the party in the contest for Imo West and shape the political calculations surrounding the district ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections and ordered the recognition of former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, October 29, 2026, ruling that evidence before the court established that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.

The judge ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate. He also directed the party to forward Okorocha’s name to the electoral commission and restrained Uzodinma from continuing to present himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial contest scheduled for January 16, 2027.

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The judgment followed a legal challenge filed by Okorocha against the recognition of Uzodinma as the winner of the party’s primary. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, questioned INEC’s decision to recognise the incumbent governor as the party’s nominee.

The dispute has been marked by conflicting accounts of the primary election. INEC’s previously reported official result credited Uzodinma with 230,464 votes and Okorocha with 1,098 votes. However, Okorocha challenged that outcome in court, insisting that he won the primary.

The ruling represents a major development in the contest for the Imo West Senate seat, although the political and legal implications may depend on any further court proceedings.

Following the judgment, the Imo State chapter of the APC maintained that Uzodinma remained its candidate, saying its legal department would study the court’s decision and determine the party’s next steps.

The development leaves the party facing a dispute over who should represent it in the senatorial election, with the court’s directives placing Okorocha in line for the ticket.