The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, October 29, 2026, nullified the emergence of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Imo West Senatorial District election slated for January 16, 2027.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026 filed by former Governor Rochas Okorocha on August 13, 2026, held that evidence before the court proved that Uzodimma did not validly win the primary election conducted by the APC on May 18, 2026, and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The court found that Okorocha, who served as Imo Governor from 2011 to 2019 and as Senator for Imo West from 2019 to 2023, secured the majority of lawful votes cast at the primary.
Okorocha, through his counsel O.J. Aboje, had challenged the declaration by Williams Kayode, Chairman and Returning Officer of the 2026 Imo APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, who had declared Uzodimma winner with 230,464 votes.
