The Imo State Government has rejected a Federal High Court judgment that declared former governor Rochas Okorocha the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Imo West Senatorial District. The government described the judgment as "a complete travesty of justice" and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal. Declan Emelumba, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, made this known in a statement, accusing the trial judge of disregarding established legal principles.
Emelumba argued that the judgment contradicted existing Supreme Court decisions on election-related disputes, particularly those involving allegations of forgery and perjury. He said the judge had been presented with Supreme Court judgments establishing that cases involving forgery and perjury could not be determined through an originating summons. The commissioner also faulted the court's decision to dismiss the preliminary objection challenging the suit on the grounds of the time within which it was filed.
According to Emelumba, the Supreme Court ruling in Orji v Chima requires a litigant seeking to be declared the winner of a party primary to file the case within 14 days of the election. The APC primary for Imo West Senatorial District was held on May 18, 2026, while Okorocha filed his suit on August 13, 2026, 87 days later. Emelumba maintained that the court should have considered the time limitation before proceeding with the case.
Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court ordered Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the January 16, 2027 election. The judge held that Uzodimma did not win the party's May 18, 2026 primary, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court ruled that the evidence before it showed that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the primary.
The APC in Imo State has maintained that Uzodimma remains its candidate for the district despite the judgment. In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the party said Uzodimma secured the ticket through its primary election and would remain its candidate pending further action. The party's legal department would examine the judgment and determine the appropriate steps to take.
Okorocha welcomed the judgment, saying it demonstrated that justice had prevailed. Speaking after the ruling, the former governor accused unnamed individuals of manipulating election results in the past to favour candidates who did not win. Okorocha commended the judiciary for its decision and claimed that the Presidency was tired of impunity.
Okorocha urged his supporters in Imo West to remain calm while celebrating the court victory. The Imo State Government's rejection of the judgment sets the stage for a potential appeal. The Court of Appeal will now have to decide on the matter.
Key points
- The Imo State Government has rejected the Federal High Court judgment declaring Rochas Okorocha the winner of the APC primary for Imo West Senatorial District.
- The government described the judgment as "a complete travesty of justice" and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
- The APC in Imo State has maintained that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for the district despite the judgment.
