The All Progressives Congress (APC) 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 ruling recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s nominee.
The party said its legal department would study the judgment and determine its next line of action.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, insisted that Uzodimma emerged victorious in the party’s senatorial 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, “The party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly.”
The position came after Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.
The court also directed Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.
The dispute arose from the APC senatorial primary held on May 18, 2026, in which Uzodimma was declared the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha polled 1,098 votes, according to the results recognised by INEC.
Okorocha challenged the outcome in court, contesting Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate.
In its ruling on Thursday, the court held that Okorocha was the lawful winner of the primary and ordered the APC to submit his name to INEC. It also questioned inconsistencies in documents the party presented in support of Uzodimma’s nomination.
Despite the ruling, the state chapter urged its members and supporters to remain focused and committed to securing victories across the state’s constituencies.
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