The All Progressives Congress in Imo State has maintained that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections, despite a Federal High Court judgment recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate.
The party made its position known in a press release signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, on Thursday, following the ruling delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate for the senatorial district. It also ordered Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.
However, the APC insisted that Uzodimma remained its candidate, stating that he emerged victorious in the party’s primary with the support of the majority of its members.
“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 statement read.
The party added that its legal department would study the judgment and determine its next steps.
“The Party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly,” it said.“The Party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly,” it said.
The APC further called on its members and supporters to stay united and remain committed to winning elections across all constituencies in the state.
The dispute stemmed from the party’s senatorial primary held on May 18, 2026, where Uzodimma was declared the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha secured 1,098 votes, based on the results recognised by INEC.
Following the outcome, Okorocha approached the court to challenge the results and contest Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate.
In its judgment delivered on Thursday, the court ruled that Okorocha was the legitimate winner of the primary and directed the APC to submit his name to INEC. The court also identified inconsistencies in documents presented by the party in support of Uzodimma’s nomination.