By Kingston Magare 29.10.2026
Imo State governor Hope Uzodinma has lost his bid to contest the Imo West Senatorial seat as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Thursday said he was fraudulently nominated as All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2027 elections.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore the name of former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha as the APC candidate.
Presiding judge Justice Obiora Egwuatu also restrained Uzodinma from parading himself as the party’s candidate because he did not win the APC primary of May 18, 2026, which INEC monitored.
According to Justice Egwuatu Mr. Uzodimma’s nomination violated Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act and failed to comply with the APC’s guidelines for conducting primaries. He said it as unlawful and fraudulent for the party to forward the Uzodinma’s name to INEC as winner of a primary he did not win.
“The publication of Hope Uzodimma’s name by INEC as the winner of the primary election is wrongful and unlawful,” the judge stated.
“Majority of the documents tendered by APC to support the purported nomination of Uzodinma (3rd respondent) contradicts each other indicating that they were clearly fabricated for the unlawful purpose of nominating the 3rd respondent as candidate.
“By contrast, documents signed, certified and released to Okorocha after a formal request showed that he secured the majority of lawful votes cast across the 10 local government areas of the senatorial district.”
INEC recognised Uzodinma as winner, maintaining that official results showed he polled 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098.
Okorocha then filed suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging the outcome and INEC’s recognition of the governor. The suit also questioned Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the 2027 senatorial election while serving as governor, and asked the court to consider the relevant constitutional provisions.
Reacting to the verdict Okorocha said: “I thank the judiciary for standing on the side of justice. I could imagine what would have happened in the state if they decided to twist justice. This is a victory for Imo State,” he said.