The All Progressives Congress in Imo State has maintained that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, despite a Federal High Court judgment recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s flagbearer.
The party’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, following the judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise and publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate for the senatorial district. It also ordered Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.
However, the state chapter of the APC insisted that Uzodimma secured the party’s ticket through its primary election, claiming that he enjoyed overwhelming support from 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 review 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 called on its members and supporters to remain committed to the party, urging them to focus on securing victories across constituencies in the state.
The dispute stems from the party’s senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, in which Uzodimma was declared the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha reportedly scored 1,098 votes in the results recognised by INEC.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Okorocha approached the court to challenge Uzodimma’s emergence as the party’s candidate.
In its ruling on Thursday, the court held that Okorocha was the lawful winner of the primary and ordered the APC to submit his name to INEC for the election.
The court also questioned inconsistencies in documents submitted by the party in support of Uzodimma’s nomination, forming part of the basis for its decision.
The ruling has set the stage for a possible legal and political contest over the APC’s senatorial ticket in Imo West ahead of the 2027 elections.
