2027: Okorocha Drags INEC to Court Over Uzodimma’s Senate Bid

2027: Okorocha Drags INEC to Court Over Uzodimma’s Senate Bid
Former governor disputes INEC’s declaration of Uzodimma as primary winner.
Suit raises constitutional questions over Uzodimma’s Senate ambition.

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Governor Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 election.

Uzodimma and the APC were joined as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.

Okorocha’s counsel, O.J. Aboje, filed the originating summons on August 13, 2026.

Okorocha governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 and later represented the Imo West Senatorial District in the Senate between 2019 and 2023.

The former governor contested the APC senatorial ticket against Uzodimma 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, declared Uzodimma the winner after announcing that he secured 230,464 votes.

Okorocha, however, rejected the result and has asked the court to determine whether INEC was bound by reports submitted by its officials who monitored the primary conducted on May 18.

He is also challenging the legality of INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the winner of the contest.

The suit has further raised constitutional questions over Uzodimma’s bid to contest for the Senate while serving as governor.

Uzodimma began his second term as Imo governor in January 2024, with his tenure expected to end in January 2028.

However, the 11th National Assembly is scheduled to commence in June 2027, several months before the expiration of Uzodimma’s tenure.

The development has raised questions over whether Uzodimma would have to leave office as governor if he wins the senatorial election and takes his seat in the Senate.

Okorocha relied on Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution in asking the court to determine whether INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name was lawful.

The section states, “The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”

Okorocha is seeking a declaration that it was unconstitutional and unlawful for INEC to publish Uzodimma as the APC senatorial candidate, arguing that the governor did not win the party’s primary election.

2027: Okorocha Uzodimma’s Senate — 2027: Okorocha Drags INEC to Court Over Uzodimma’s Senate Bid

He is also asking the court to cancel INEC’s publication recognising Uzodimma 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.

He is also seeking an order restraining Uzodimma, either personally, 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, Uzodimma purchased the APC nomination form for the senatorial contest despite his tenure as governor extending until January 2028, several months after the inauguration of the next Senate.

The plaintiff 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 Uzodimma secured 102,158 votes.