Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo, has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for publishing the name of Hope Uzodimma, Imo governor, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo west senatorial district ahead of the 2027 poll.
Other respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026 are Uzodimma and APC.
According to NAN, 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 senator 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 winner of the contest with 230,464 votes.
Uzodimma was sworn in for a second term as governor in January 2024, meaning that his tenure would elapse in January 2028.
The 11th Senate will be inaugurated in June 2027 — more than six months before the expiration of Uzodimma’s stint as Imo governor.
The scenario has elicited debate on whether Uzodimma would resign as governor should he win the senatorial election in 2027.
Okorocha asked the court to determine whether INEC is not bound by the reports of its officers who monitored the APC primary conducted on May 18 for the nomination of a candidate for the Imo west senatorial district.
Citing section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, Okorocha asked the court to determine whether the publication of Uzodimma’s name by INEC as 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 APC’s candidate when he did not emerge as winner of the primary election.
He also sought an order setting aside or voiding the publication made by INEC which declared Uzodimma as the aspirant who polled the highest number of votes cast.
Okorocha prayed the court for an order directing INEC to recognise and publish his name as the duly nominated candidate of APC to contest the poll.
He also sought an order prohibiting Uzodimma, whether by himself or through the APC or anyone, from parading himself as the nominated candidate of the party to contest the election.
The affidavit attached to the suit was deposed to by Amen Rochas, son of the former governor.
He said Uzodimma, whose tenure would not have expired by the year 2027 when the senate would be inaugurated, purchased the nomination forms for the APC senatorial ticket.
The plaintiff alleged that the direct primary election was conducted by APC on May 18 and his father emerged victorious by scoring 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma mustered 102,158 votes
