2027: Okorocha Drags INEC to Court Over Uzodimma’s Imo West Candidacy

By Reporter

Former Imo State Governor and Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the commission’s publication of Governor Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for 2027.

Okorocha is asking the court to direct INEC to recognise and publish his name as the duly nominated candidate of the APC, insisting that he won the party’s senatorial primary conducted on May 18.

In the suit, the two-term former governor raised five questions for determination, including whether INEC was bound by the reports of its officials who monitored the APC primary and recorded him as the winner.

He also asked the court to determine whether, in view of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, INEC was right to publish Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate for Imo West, given that the governor’s tenure would still be running when the Senate resulting from the 2027 general election is inaugurated.

Okorocha is seeking 10 reliefs from the court should it rule in his favour.

Among other reliefs, he wants the court to declare unconstitutional INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate, arguing that the governor did not emerge as the winner of the May 18 primary.

He is also asking the court to set aside the publication by INEC declaring Uzodimma the winner of the primary and order the commission to recognise and publish his name as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the 2027 Imo West senatorial election.

The former governor further wants the court to restrain Uzodimma, whether acting personally or through the APC or any other person or organisation, from presenting himself as the party’s nominated candidate for the election.

He is also seeking an award of costs against the respondents as the court may deem appropriate.

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Amen Rochas, who described Okorocha as his biological father, said he was familiar with the facts of the case by virtue of his position as the former governor’s Personal Assistant on Political Matters.

According to him, Okorocha, born on September 22, 1962, is a registered and financial member of the APC.

The affidavit further stated that Uzodimma, who was sworn in for his second term as governor on January 15, 2024, would remain in office until midnight on January 14, 2028.

It alleged that despite this, Uzodimma purchased the Expression of Interest and nomination forms to contest for the APC senatorial ticket for Imo West.

The deponent said Okorocha and other aspirants seeking APC tickets for various elective positions were screened and cleared to participate in the direct primaries.

He further alleged that the APC National Working Committee directed that the results of the primaries be forwarded to the party’s national secretariat for announcement.

According to the affidavit, the direct primary was conducted on May 18, with Okorocha allegedly scoring 150,780 votes to defeat Uzodimma, who was said to have polled 102,158 votes.

The suit therefore challenges INEC’s subsequent decision to publish Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate and asks the court to determine who is legally entitled to represent the party in the 2027 Imo West senatorial election.