The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declared former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, as the authentic winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Imo West Senatorial District.
In a landmark judgment delivered on Thursday at Court 11, presiding judge, Hon. Justice Egwuatu, held that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, and duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court held that documentary evidence and certified returns from the primary proved that Okorocha scored the highest number of valid votes cast during the exercise.
Consequently, the court ordered the APC to immediately transmit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its official candidate for Imo West (Orlu Zone) for the January 16, 2027 election and directed INEC to publish his name accordingly.
The court also restrained Governor Hope Uzodimma from parading himself as the party’s flagbearer for the district.
The judgment followed a suit NO:FHC/ABJ/CS/847/2026 filed by Okorocha challenging the submission of Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate
Meanwhile, the Imo State chapter of the APC has reacted to the ruling, stating that it will appeal the judgment and that Governor Uzodimma remains its candidate pending the outcome of the appeal.