Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged Governor Hope Uzodimma to the Federal High Court in Abuja over the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election.
Okorocha is asking the court to declare him as the rightful candidate of the APC and to set aside the publication of Uzodimma’s name by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
DailyVista247 learnt that the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026 was filed on August 13, 2026, by his counsel, O.J. Aboje, with INEC, the APC and Uzodimma listed as 1st to 3rd respondents.
Findings by DailyVista247 show the dispute stems from the APC National Assembly primary election conducted for Imo West in May 2026.
According to court documents cited, the Chairman of the primary election committee, Williams Kayode, had declared Governor Uzodimma as winner of the contest with 230,464 votes.
Okorocha is, however, contesting the outcome.
In his originating summons, he is asking the court to determine whether INEC is bound by the reports of its monitoring officers who observed the primary held on May 18, 2026.
He is also asking the court to interpret Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that a serving governor shall not hold any other executive office or paid employment while in office.
The former governor, who served as governor from 2011 to 2019 and as senator for Imo West from 2019 to 2023, is praying the court to declare that the publication of Uzodimma’s name by INEC was not in line with the constitution and the outcome of the primary.
He further sought an order setting aside the publication and an order directing INEC to recognize and publish his name as the duly nominated candidate of the APC for Imo West.
In addition, he asked the court to restrain Governor Uzodimma from presenting himself as the party’s candidate pending the determination of the suit.
A sworn statement in support of the case, deposed to by Amen Rochas on his behalf, claimed that Uzodimma obtained the APC senatorial nomination forms while still serving as governor.
The affidavit further claimed that Okorocha won the primary with 150,780 votes against Uzodimma's 102,158 votes.
DailyVista247 gathered that the 11th Senate is scheduled to be inaugurated in June 2027, which is before the end of the current tenure of the Imo State Governor.
The development has generated public discussion on the eligibility of a sitting governor to contest a senatorial seat while still in office.
As of the time of filing this report, the court is yet to fix a date for hearing of the matter.
