Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has described a Federal High Court judgment recognising him as the All Progressives Congress candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections as a victory for democracy and the Nigerian Constitution.
Okorocha, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemodo, also commended President Bola Tinubu for “providing the enabling environment for the Judiciary and other Institutions to function for the nation’s rapid development and growth.”
The former governor spoke after Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the recognition of Governor Hope Uzodimma as the APC senatorial candidate and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish Okorocha’s name.
Describing the judgment as a landmark decision, Okorocha said, “This judgment, to say the least, is a resounding victory for the nation’s judiciary. It is a victory for the nation’s fast-growing democracy. It is an outstanding victory for the nation’s Constitution, as amended.”
He added, “It is a remarkable victory for all lovers of what is right and haters of what is wrong. It is a notable victory for posterity and history. Finally, it is a victory for Imo people in general, and Imo West Senatorial District people in particular.”
Okorocha also commended the APC leadership for allowing party members to pursue their legitimate aspirations and constitutional rights.
He expressed gratitude to the people of Imo State, particularly residents of Imo West Senatorial District, for their prayers, moral support and spontaneous celebrations following the judgment.
The former governor also commended Uzodimma for being among the respondents in the case, describing his involvement in the proceedings as part of a historic judgment.
Okorocha further expressed gratitude to God for what he described as a victory.
Former APC national chairman and ex-Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, visited Okorocha to celebrate the judgment.
Addressing journalists during his visit, Ganduje described Okorocha as a friend, brother and colleague, adding that he was “highly delighted… impressed, and… so excited,” to hear about the judgment in favour of the former Imo State Governor.
“I am highly delighted, I’m so impressed, and I’m so excited to hear about the judgment that was passed today, in favour of my father, Rochas Okorocha, Rochas Foundation. That is why I’m here: to celebrate with him, and I’m happy to see you.”
However, the APC in Imo State insisted that Uzodimma remains its candidate for the senatorial district despite the court ruling.
The party, in a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, said Uzodimma won the primary with the overwhelming support of party members.
“The party wishes to state without any confusion that His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma 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.
It added that its legal department would study the judgment 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 said.
The APC also urged its members and supporters to remain focused and committed to securing victories across the state’s constituencies.
Justice Egwuatu, in his judgment, held that Uzodimma did not win the party’s May 18, 2026, senatorial primary and restrained him from parading himself as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.
The judge declared Okorocha the lawful winner of the primary, which was monitored by INEC, and directed the APC to submit his name to the commission.
He held that the nomination of Uzodimma breached Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act and failed to comply with the party’s guidelines for conducting primary elections.
The judge consequently declared that it was unlawful and fraudulent for the APC to have forwarded Uzodimma’s name to INEC as the winner of an election he did not win.
He held, “That the publication of Hope Uzodimma’s name by INEC as the winner of the primary election is wrongful and unlawful.”
Justice Egwuatu further ruled, “That the INEC publication of the name of Hope Uzodimma on August 1 as APC senatorial candidate for Imo West is hereby set aside and in its place, INEC is ordered to restore the name of Rochas Okorocha.”
The judge also faulted INEC for accepting Uzodimma’s nomination despite what he described as overwhelming documentary evidence showing that the governor was not the lawful winner of the primary.
He declared, “Rochas Okorocha is the lawful winner and is entitled to have his name submitted to INEC.”
The court held that INEC was bound by the report of its officials, which, according to the judge, established that Okorocha won the May 18 primary.
In reviewing the evidence, Justice Egwuatu questioned the authenticity and consistency of documents submitted by the APC to justify Uzodimma’s nomination.
He said, “The majority of the documents tendered by the APC to support the purported nomination of Uzodimma (3rd respondent) contradict each other, indicating that they were clearly fabricated for the unlawful purpose of nominating the 3rd respondent as candidate.
“In view of the doubt cast on the authenticity of the documents, the court cannot ascribe probative value to the purported documents.”
The judge said documents signed, certified and released to Okorocha following a formal request showed that the former governor secured the majority of lawful votes cast across the 10 local government areas that make up the senatorial district.
He identified inconsistencies in accounts given by APC officials regarding the conduct of the primary.
According to the judge, one document indicated that Option A4 was used for the exercise, while another document from a member of the party’s National Working Committee claimed that a consensus arrangement produced Uzodimma.
A separate document from another NWC member, however, claimed that a direct primary was conducted.
Justice Egwuatu described the conflicting accounts as significant, particularly because votes were reportedly allocated to the aspirants despite the claim that Uzodimma emerged through consensus.
The court consequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC and directed the commission to replace Uzodimma’s name with that of the former governor.
The dispute followed conflicting claims over the outcome of the APC primary ahead of the 2027 elections.
Uzodimma was declared the winner and recognised by INEC, which maintained that the official results showed that the governor polled 230,464 votes, while Okorocha received 1,098 votes.
However, a separate document subsequently circulated, purporting to show that Okorocha won the primary with 150,780 votes.
Okorocha challenged Uzodimma’s recognition at the Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, asking the court to determine whether INEC was right to recognise the incumbent governor as the party’s candidate.
The suit also raised questions about Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest the 2027 senatorial election while serving as governor, whose tenure is expected to end in January 2028.
Speaking with journalists after the judgment, Okorocha’s counsel, O.J. Aboje, described the ruling as a vindication of his client, who, he said, had been accused in the media of forging documents.
“Firstly, we’re happy. You recall that in the last few weeks my client has been accused in the media of forging documents; he did this, he did all that. But you have all heard the court.
“Like it’s always said, the court is the last hope for the common man, even though my client is not a common man. He has been vindicated,” Aboje said.
Also reacting, Okorocha’s son and Special Adviser on Political Matters, Amen Rochas, commended the judiciary for what he described as a fair judgment despite alleged attempts to influence the courts through fake news.
“I must salute the judiciary. With all this fake news that happened just recently, I’m sure it was to arm-twist the judiciary, but they stood firm,” he said.
He also commended his father for remaining focused on Tinubu’s campaign despite the pressure arising from the dispute.
Uzodimma has also been in the news over his reported ambition to become Senate President in 2027, a move that has reportedly put him at odds with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
At the inauguration of the APC presidential campaign council on October 14, the governor declared his intention to contest the Imo West senatorial seat in the 2027 elections.
Akpabio, who was also present at the event, urged President Bola Tinubu to ask governors to complete their constitutionally prescribed tenures before seeking other elective offices.
At plenary the following day, senators resolved that there would be no vacancy in the leadership of the 11th Senate.
