2027: Okorocha sues INEC, APC, Uzodimma over Imo West District dispute

Former Governor Rochas Okorocha has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for publishing Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as the candidate for the 2027 Imo West Senatorial District election.

Okorocha, in the suit filed by his lawyer, O.J. Aboje, joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a defendant.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the originating summons, filed on 13 August, is marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.

The applicant, also a former senator, posed five questions for determination.

He wants the court to determine whether INEC is not bound by the reports of its officers who monitored the APC primaries, duly conducted on 18 May for the nomination of its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District for the 2027 general elections, which he claims he won.

He also wants the court to determine, regarding the provisions of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), whether INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name on 1 August as the winner of the APC primary for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 poll was wrongful.

Okorocha, therefore, sought 10 reliefs if his questions were answered in his favour.

He urged the court to declare that it was unconstitutional for INEC to publish Uzodimma’s name as the APC’s candidate on 1 August when he did not emerge as the winner of the primary election conducted on 18 May.

He sought an order setting aside or voiding the publication made by INEC on 1 August, which declared Uzodimma as the person who won the highest votes in the APC primary election held on 18 May to contest as the preferred candidate for Imo West Senatorial District come 2027.

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.

He equally sought an order awarding costs against the respondents as the court deems appropriate in all the circumstances of the suit.

Affidavit in support of suit

In the affidavit attached to the suit, Amen Rochas deposed that Okorocha is his biological father.

He said by virtue of his position as Okorocha’s personal assistant on political matters, he was very conversant with the facts and circumstances stated by him.

He said the applicant (Okorocha), born on 22 September 1962, is a registered, financial card-carrying member of APC.

He stated that Uzodimma’s tenure as governor will expire at midnight on 14 January 2028, having taken the oath of office on 15 January 2024.

He said Uzodimma, whose tenure as governor would not have expired by 2027 when the Senate will be inaugurated after the 2027 general election, also purchased EoI and nomination forms for the party’s senatorial candidate.

He said the NWC directed that the results should be forwarded to the party’s national secretariat, as the same would be announced at the national secretariat

He said the APC conducted the direct primary election on 18 May, and his father emerged victorious with 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma scored 102,158 votes.