Imo people have spoken, says Okorocha

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the recognition of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of former Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in his judgment, also restrained Uzodimma from parading himself as the APC senatorial candidate for the January 16, 2027, election, holding that he did not win the party’s May 18, 2026 primary.

The judge declared that Okorocha emerged as the lawful winner of the primary, which was monitored by INEC, and directed the APC to submit his name to the electoral commission as its candidate.

Justice Egwuatu held that the nomination of Uzodimma breached Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act and failed to comply with the APC’s guidelines for conducting primary elections.

He consequently declared that it was unlawful and fraudulent for the party to have forwarded Uzodimma’s name to INEC as the winner of a primary election he did not win.

MEANWHILE, the APC in Imo State has insisted that Uzodimma remains its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.

The party stated this in a statement issued yesterday by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones.

The APC described the reports of Uzodimma’s sack as unverified, accusing opposition figures of circulating claims suggesting that the governor had been replaced as the party’s candidate.

It maintained that the governor emerged victorious in the party’s senatorial primary election with the overwhelming support of its members.

The statement read: “The APC is aware of some unverified reports making the rounds across many social media platforms and being circulated by renowned opposition figures about a purported change in the candidacy of our Party for Imo West Senatorial District.

“The party wishes to state without any confusion that Hope Uzodimma 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.”

HOWEVER, reacting to the judicial pronouncement, Okorocha stated that the people of Imo West zone had spoken loudly, adding that the court has, by its considered judgment, proved to be the true hope of the common man.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha declared: “On our side, we appreciate the spontaneous and unprecedented jubilation in Imo, especially in Imo West Senatorial District, over this historic judgment. We won’t take this jubilation and excitement for granted.”