Former Imo State Governor and Senator, Rochas Okorocha, has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the publication of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s name as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election.
Okorocha in his suit is challenging INEC’s decision to publish Uzodimma’s name, arguing that the commission is bound by the reports of its officials who monitored the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
According to Okorocha, he emerged as the winner of the primary and should therefore be recognised as the APC’s candidate for the election.
The former governor is asking the court to declare that it was unconstitutional for INEC to publish Uzodimma’s name on August 18 as the APC’s senatorial candidate when, according to him, Uzodimma did not emerge as the winner of the primary held in May.
Okorocha is also seeking an order restraining Uzodimma, whether acting personally or through the APC or any other person, from presenting himself as the party’s nominated candidate for the election.
As contained in the suit, Okorocha also raised questions over Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest for the Senate while still serving as governor of Imo State.
He argued that Uzodimma’s tenure will expire at midnight on January 14, 2028, having been sworn in for his second term on January 15, 2024.
Okorocha further contended that Uzodimma’s tenure would still be running in 2027 when the Senate is inaugurated after the general election.
He also alleged that despite this, Uzodinma purchased the Expression of Interest and nomination forms of the APC to contest the Imo West Senatorial election.
