The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has insisted that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections, despite a Federal High Court ruling recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the winner of the party’s primary.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s state publicity secretary, Jones Onwuasoanya, maintained that Uzodimma secured the nomination with the overwhelming support of party 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 said its legal department would review the court’s decision before determining its next course of action.
“The Party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly,” it added.
The APC also urged its members and supporters to remain focused and committed to securing victory across constituencies in the state.
Earlier on Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Okorocha as the APC’s candidate for Imo West and publish his name accordingly.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that evidence before the court showed Okorocha secured the highest number of votes in the party’s primary conducted on May 18.
The judge faulted INEC for recognising Uzodimma despite what he described as “overwhelming documentary evidence that the governor did not win the primary”.
Okorocha, who governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019, filed a suit in August challenging INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate, arguing that the commission was bound by the reports of its officials who monitored the primary election.
