Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has insisted that he remains the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Imo West in the 2027 general elections, despite a Federal High Court judgment ordering his replacement.
The governor maintained that he would contest the election on the APC platform, describing claims that his senatorial ticket would be taken from him and handed to another candidate as false.
Background to the Dispute
The Federal High Court in Abuja directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District and replace it with that of Rochas Okorocha, following a judgment on October 29, 2026.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that Uzodimma did not win the APC senatorial primary election conducted on May 18, 2026.
APC’s Stance on the Judgment
The APC in Imo State rejected the judgment and continued to recognise Uzodimma as its candidate for the senatorial district.
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Uzodimma reaffirmed his determination to remain in the race, insisting that his senatorial ticket would not be surrendered to another candidate.
“If they tell you that I will hold this ticket and somebody will collect it and give it to another, tell the person it is a lie,” the governor declared.
Campaign for APC Candidates
Uzodimma called on residents and supporters of the APC to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, urging them to campaign for the party’s candidates across the various elective positions.
He maintained that the APC remained the political platform through which he and other candidates would contest the forthcoming elections, including the House of Assembly and House of Representatives.
“Go and campaign for the party, our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. There is no other political party we are going with,” he said.
Uzodimma identified the individuals he said would represent the APC in the three senatorial districts of Imo State, reaffirming his position as the party’s candidate for Imo West (Orlu zone) notwithstanding the Federal High Court judgment.
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“For the Senate, your senator in Okigwe zone is Patrick Ndubueze, in Orlu zone it is my humble self (Hope Uzodimma), and in Owerri zone it is (Alex) Mbata,” he stated.
The disagreement over the APC senatorial ticket followed the court’s determination that Uzodimma did not emerge as the winner of the party’s May 18 primary election.
Okorocha welcomed the ruling as a victory for democracy and the judiciary, commending President Bola Tinubu for providing an enabling environment for the judiciary and other institutions to discharge their responsibilities towards national development.
Okorocha described the court’s decision as a vindication of the rule of law and the constitutional principles governing Nigeria’s democratic process.
“This judgment, to say the least, is a resounding victory for the nation’s judiciary. It is a victory for the nation’s fast-growing democracy. It is an outstanding victory for the nation’s Constitution, as amended,” Okorocha stated.
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