A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for January 16 2027 and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to recognise former Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party authentic candidate.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, holding that evidence presented before the court established that Uzodimma did not validly emerge as the winner of the APC senatorial primary conducted in the district on May 18 2026 and monitored by INEC.

The court found that Okorocha who previously governed Imo State and served as senator representing Imo West secured the highest number of votes cast during the primary and was therefore entitled to be nominated by the party.

Consequently, Justice Egwuatu nullified Uzodimma emergence as the party candidate and ordered INEC to immediately recognise and publish Okorocha name as the duly nominated APC candidate for Imo West.

The court also issued an order restraining Governor Uzodimma from presenting himself as the APC candidate for the election.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Okorocha in suit number FHC ABJ CS 1854 2026 challenging Uzodimma recognition as the party candidate. The dispute arose after INEC official result recognised Uzodimma as winner with 230464 votes while Okorocha was credited with 1098 votes.

Okorocha lawyer who spoke after the judgment outside the court premises said the court has affirmed what happened at the primary, describing Okorocha as the rightful winner of the APC primary for Imo West.

The APC in Imo State in a statement on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary Onwuasoanya FCC Jones said it is aware of the judgment but maintains that Uzodimma remains its candidate having won the primaries with overwhelming support of party members, adding that the party will explore legal options.