The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has insisted that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.
The party made its position clear on Thursday, October 29, following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja. The court recognised former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s validly nominated candidate.
In a statement, the APC’s State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, said the party would review the judgment before deciding its next legal steps.
The party maintained that Uzodimma won its senatorial primary with the support of most party members. It also urged supporters to remain focused while its legal team examines the ruling.
However, the court’s decision has introduced fresh uncertainty over the party’s representation in the Imo West senatorial race.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgment on Thursday.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Okorocha as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District. It also directed the party to submit his name to the electoral commission.
Furthermore, the judge ordered Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the APC’s candidate for the senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Okorocha challenging INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the winner of the party’s May 18 primary.
Okorocha argued that the electoral commission’s monitoring records supported his claim that he won the exercise.
According to court reports, the judge held that the evidence before the court established that Okorocha won the primary. The decision therefore challenged the party’s earlier recognition of Uzodimma as its nominee.
Despite the ruling, the Imo APC has not accepted that its candidate has changed.
Jones said the party’s legal department would study the judgment and determine the appropriate response. He also urged members and supporters to remain committed to the party.
Meanwhile, the dispute reflects continuing disagreements over candidate selection ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The case has also brought Uzodimma and Okorocha’s competing claims over the Imo West ticket into sharper focus.
The final status of the APC’s Imo West candidacy will depend on the legal process following the judgment.
The ruling directs INEC to recognise Okorocha, while the state APC continues to insist that Uzodimma remains its candidate.
Consequently, the party’s next legal steps will be important in determining how the dispute proceeds.
For now, the court’s decision and the APC’s response have placed the Imo West senatorial ticket at the centre of a political and legal contest ahead of the 2027 elections.
