Former Imo State Governor and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the court, challenging the electoral body’s decision to recognise Governor Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West senatorial election scheduled for 2027.
Okorocha, a two-term former governor of Imo State, is asking the court to invalidate INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name as the APC senatorial candidate, insisting that he won the party’s direct primary conducted on May 18.
The former governor is also questioning the legality of INEC’s decision to disregard reports allegedly submitted by its officials who monitored the APC primary and reportedly recorded him as the winner of the exercise.
In the suit, Okorocha is asking the court to determine whether INEC had the legal authority to publish Uzodimma’s name when, according to his claim, the reports of the electoral commission’s own monitoring officials allegedly reflected his victory at the primary.
He is equally challenging Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while still serving as governor of Imo State.
Okorocha wants the court to determine whether Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution affects Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest for the Imo West Senate seat, particularly because the governor’s tenure is expected to end on January 14, 2028, after the 2027 general election.
The former governor is therefore seeking an order setting aside INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate for Imo West.
He is also asking the court to compel INEC to recognise and publish his name as the duly nominated APC candidate for the senatorial election.
Okorocha further wants the court to restrain Uzodimma, the APC and their agents, representatives or privies from presenting, advertising or portraying the governor as the party’s candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election.
He is also seeking an award of costs against the respondents.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Amen Rochas, who identified himself as Okorocha’s biological son and Personal Assistant on Political Matters, said he was familiar with the circumstances surrounding the dispute.
Amen stated that Okorocha is a registered and financially active member of the APC and participated in the party’s nomination process for the Imo West senatorial election.
He alleged that Uzodimma also obtained the APC Expression of Interest and nomination forms to contest the senatorial seat despite the fact that his tenure as governor would not expire until January 14, 2028.
According to the affidavit, several aspirants seeking APC tickets for different elective positions were screened and cleared to participate in the party’s direct primaries.
Amen further alleged that the APC National Working Committee directed that the results of the primaries be transmitted to the party’s national secretariat for announcement.
He claimed that the May 18 direct primary was won by Okorocha with 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma polled 102,158 votes.
The allegation, if upheld by the court, could potentially trigger another major battle over the APC’s nomination process in Imo State and raise questions about the role of INEC’s monitoring reports in determining the validity of party primaries.
The dispute also introduces a constitutional dimension into the contest, with Okorocha asking the court to examine whether a sitting governor whose tenure extends beyond the date of the 2027 general election can simultaneously pursue a senatorial mandate.
INEC had already published Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate for the Imo West senatorial election. Okorocha’s legal action now seeks to overturn that decision and replace the governor’s name with his own.
The case comes amid intensifying preparations for the 2027 general elections, with internal party contests, nomination disputes and questions surrounding the eligibility of political aspirants expected to generate significant litigation ahead of the polls.