Former Imo State Governor and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court to challenge the electoral commission’s decision to recognise the state Governor Hope Uzodimma as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the same senatorial district election in 2027.
Okorocha, a two-term former governor of the state, asked the court to invalidate INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name, insisting that he won the APC direct primary conducted on May 18.
In the suit, Okorocha questioned whether INEC was legally entitled to disregard reports submitted by its officials who monitored the APC primary and allegedly recorded Okorocha as the winner.
He also asked the court to determine whether Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election is affected by Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, particularly given that his tenure as Imo governor is expected to run until January 2028.
Okorocha sought an order setting aside INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name as the APC senatorial candidate for Imo West.
He asked the court to compel INEC to recognise and publish his name as the duly nominated candidate of the APC for the 2027 election.
Okorocha equally sought an order restraining Uzodimma, the APC and their agents from presenting or portraying the governor as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district.
He also asked the court to award costs against the respondents.
In the affidavit filed in support of the suit, Amen Rochas, who described himself as Okorocha’s biological son and Personal Assistant on Political Matters, said he was familiar with the circumstances surrounding the dispute.
According to him, Okorocha is a registered and financial member of the APC and participated in the party’s process for selecting its candidate for the Imo West senatorial contest.
He alleged that Uzodimma also obtained the party’s Expression of Interest and nomination forms despite his tenure as governor not ending until January 14, 2028.
Amen further stated that several aspirants seeking APC tickets for different elective positions were screened and cleared to participate in the direct primaries.
He alleged that the APC National Working Committee directed that results from the exercise be transmitted to the party’s national secretariat for announcement.
He claimed that the May 18 primary was won by Okorocha with 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma polled 102,158 votes.
The legal challenge comes as the battle for the 2027 elections intensifies within political parties, with disputes over nomination processes and eligibility expected to form part of the issues before the courts ahead of the polls.
INEC had published Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate for the Imo West senatorial election, a decision Okorocha is now asking the court to overturn.
