Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the commission’s recognition of Governor Hope Uzodinma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 election.
Uzodinma and the APC were joined as defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.
The originating summons was filed on August 13, 2026, by Okorocha’s counsel, O.J. Aboje.
Okorocha, who governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019, later represented the Imo West Senatorial District in the Senate between 2019 and 2023.
The former governor contested the APC senatorial ticket against Uzodinma during the party’s primary election held in May.
Williams Kayode, chairman and returning officer of the 2026 Imo APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, had declared Uzodinma the winner after announcing that he secured 230,464 votes.
Okorocha, however, has rejected the outcome and is asking the court to determine whether INEC was bound by reports submitted by its officials who monitored the primary election conducted on May 18.
He is also challenging the legality of INEC’s recognition of Uzodinma as the winner of the contest.
Constitutional Questions Over Uzodinma’s Senate Bid
The legal battle has also brought renewed attention to the constitutional implications of Uzodinma seeking a Senate seat while remaining in office as governor.
Uzodinma began his second term as governor of Imo State in January 2024, meaning his tenure is expected to end in January 2028.
However, the 11th National Assembly is scheduled to commence in June 2027, several months before the end of Uzodinma’s tenure.
This has raised questions over whether Uzodinma would be required to vacate the governorship if he wins the senatorial election and subsequently takes his seat in the Senate.
Okorocha has relied on Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution in asking the court to determine whether INEC’s publication of Uzodinma’s name was lawful.
The section provides that, “The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”
What Okorocha Wants From the Court
Okorocha is seeking a declaration that it was unconstitutional and unlawful for INEC to publish Uzodinma as the APC’s senatorial candidate, particularly based on his claim that the governor did not win the party’s primary election.
He is also asking the court to cancel INEC’s publication recognising Uzodinma as the aspirant who secured the highest number of votes at the primary.
The former governor further wants the court to compel INEC to recognise and publish his name as the APC’s duly nominated candidate for the Imo West senatorial election.
In addition, Okorocha is seeking an order restraining Uzodinma, whether personally or through the APC or any other person, from presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the election.
An affidavit filed alongside the suit was sworn to by Amen Rochas, the former governor’s son.
According to the affidavit, Uzodinma purchased the APC nomination form for the senatorial contest even though his tenure as governor is not expected to end until January 2028, months after the inauguration of the next Senate.
The plaintiff further alleged that the APC conducted a direct primary on May 18 and that Okorocha emerged as the actual winner.
He claimed that Okorocha polled 150,780 votes, while Uzodinma secured 102,158 votes.
The case now places the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket before the court, with both the outcome of the party primary and the legal questions surrounding Uzodinma’s candidacy potentially shaping the 2027 contest.