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ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a judicial ruling that has sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s political landscape, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the All Progressives Congress flagbearer for Imo West Senatorial District.
Delivering judgment in the high-stakes pre-election suit on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that Governor Uzodimma was not the validly elected winner of the APC shadow election conducted on May 18. Instead, the court declared Uzodimma’s long-standing political rival and former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, as the authentic winner and lawful candidate of the ruling party for the Orlu zone seat.
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Court Orders INEC To Remove Uzodimma, Publish Okorocha As Valid Candidate
The judgment represents a dramatic turning point in a multi-year power struggle between two of Imo State’s most influential political figures. Justice Egwuatu held that evidence presented before the court demonstrated that Okorocha secured the highest number of valid votes cast during the APC primary monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Consequently, the court issued a mandatory injunction directing INEC to immediately remove Governor Uzodimma’s name from its official list of candidates and publish Okorocha’s name as the valid flagbearer for Imo West.
The court also ordered the APC National Working Committee to submit Okorocha’s credentials to the electoral umpire, while perpetually restraining Governor Uzodimma from holding himself out or parading as the party’s candidate for the district.
INEC Report Seals Victory For Okorocha
Central to Okorocha’s legal victory was the statutory weight of INEC’s official primary election monitoring report, submitted under Section 84 of the Electoral Act.
While the APC state leadership had declared Uzodimma victorious with over 230,000 votes, Okorocha’s legal team, led by O.J. Aboje, presented the Certified True Copy of the official INEC report.
The document verified that Okorocha had scored 150,780 valid votes compared to Uzodimma’s 102,158 votes across the 12 local government areas of the senatorial district.
Justice Egwuatu agreed that the electoral commission was bound by its own documented monitoring report.
In addition to the vote tally, Okorocha’s counsel raised constitutional arguments under Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, maintaining that an executive governor currently in office cannot validly secure and hold a legislative nomination while actively occupying executive office.
Decade-Long Uzodimma-Okorocha Feud
The decision marks the latest chapter in a decade-long political conflict between both leaders. The feud originally escalated during the 2018–2019 election cycle, when Okorocha attempted to endorse his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, for the Imo governorship.
Uzodimma, having recently joined the APC from the PDP, formed a coalition inside the party to secure the governorship ticket, ultimately assuming office in January 2020 following a Supreme Court judgment. Upon taking office, Uzodimma’s administration instituted judicial panels that recovered several state assets and land titles linked to Okorocha’s family, further deepening the rift.
Uzodimma To Appeal, Okorocha Supporters Celebrate
Reactions to Thursday’s judgment were immediate. Legal representatives and spokespersons for Governor Uzodimma described the decision as a misapplication of pre-election statutes, arguing that the suit was statute-barred under Section 285(9) of the Constitution for exceeding the strict 14-day filing window following the primary.
Uzodimma’s defense team confirmed plans to immediately file an appeal and seek a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, supporters of Rochas Okorocha celebrated outside the court premises in Abuja, describing the decision as a milestone for internal party democracy and strict adherence to the Electoral Act.
With an appeal already in motion, the high-stakes contest for the Orlu zone seat now moves to the appellate court.
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