By Duchess Ifeoluwa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, also directed the incumbent governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

The judgment followed a suit instituted by Okorocha to challenge INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate for the district.

Justice Egwuatu held that the evidence before the court established that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, which was monitored by INEC.

The judge consequently ordered the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to the electoral commission as its candidate for the election.

The dispute arose from conflicting claims over the outcome of the party’s primary. INEC’s official results listed Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was credited with 1,098 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome and the electoral commission’s recognition of Uzodimma, the former governor filed suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, challenging the decision.

Okorocha also questioned Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while serving as governor of Imo State.