FORMER Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the commission’s publication of the name of Governor Hope Uzodimma as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 election.
News Point Nigeria reports that other respondents in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, are Uzodimma and the APC.
The originating summons was filed on August 13, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja by O.J. Aboje, counsel to Okorocha.
Okorocha was governor of Imo State from 2011 to 2019 and served as senator representing Imo West from 2019 to 2023.
He contested the APC senatorial district ticket with Uzodimma in May.
Williams Kayode, chairman and returning officer of the 2026 Imo APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, declared Uzodimma the winner of the contest with 230,464 votes.
Uzodimma was sworn in for a second term as governor in January 2024, meaning his tenure would expire in January 2028.
The 11th Senate is expected to be inaugurated in June 2027, more than six months before the expiration of Uzodimma’s tenure as Imo State governor.
The development has sparked debate over whether Uzodimma would be required to resign as governor should he win the senatorial election in 2027.
In his suit, Okorocha asked the court to determine whether INEC is not bound by the reports of its officers who monitored the APC primary election conducted on May 18 for the nomination of a candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District.
Citing Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, Okorocha also asked the court to determine whether INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name as the winner of the primary was not wrongful.
Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution states that: “The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”
The former governor prayed the court to declare that it was unconstitutional for INEC to publish Uzodimma’s name as the APC candidate when, according to him, the governor did not emerge as the winner of the primary election.
He also sought an order setting aside or voiding the publication made by INEC declaring Uzodimma as the aspirant who polled the highest number of votes cast.
Okorocha further asked the court to direct INEC to recognise and publish his name as the duly nominated candidate of the APC to contest the election.
He also sought an order prohibiting Uzodimma, whether by himself or through the APC or anyone acting on his behalf, from parading himself as the nominated candidate of the party for the election.
The affidavit attached to the suit was deposed to by Amen Rochas, son of the former governor.
He stated that Uzodimma, whose tenure would not have expired by 2027 when the Senate is inaugurated, purchased the nomination forms for the APC senatorial ticket.
The plaintiff alleged that the APC conducted a direct primary election on May 18, in which his father emerged victorious with 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma, according to the affidavit, polled 102,158 votes.