Harrison EDEH
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, to immediately stop presenting himself as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo West Senatorial election slated for January 16, 2027.
Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court issued the order after holding that Uzodinma did not win the May 18 primary election conducted by the APC and monitored by INEC.
Delivering judgment, the Judge held that the evidence presented before the court proved that former governor Rochas Okorocha actually won the majority of the votes cast at the poll and should be declared the winner of the election.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name as the candidate of the APC in the 2027 general elections for the Imo West Senatorial election.
APC rejects court order sacking Uzodimma
The APC in Imo State has insisted that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party stated this in a statement issued on Thursday by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, after an Abuja Federal High Court sacked Uzodimma as the candidate, replacing him with ex-governor Rochas Okorocha.
The APC described the reports of Uzodimma’s sack as unverified, accusing opposition figures of circulating claims suggesting that Uzodimma had been replaced as the party’s candidate.
It maintained that the governor emerged victorious in the party’s senatorial primary election with the overwhelming support of its members.
The statement read: “The All Progressives Congress is aware of some unverified reports making the rounds across many social media platforms and being circulated by renowned opposition figures about a purported change in the candidacy of our Party for Imo West Senatorial District.
“The party wishes to state without any confusion that His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, remains the candidate of our Party for Imo West Senatorial District, having won the primaries of our great party with the overwhelming support of the majority of our party members.
“The party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly.
“We urge our teeming party members and supporters of our great party to remain focused and undistracted and remain committed to working assiduously for the victory of our party across all constituencies in the state.“
