The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state has condemned and rejected a Federal High Court judgement in Abuja that declared former governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as the party's senatorial candidate for Imo West. The judgement, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on October 29, 2026, nullified the candidature of Senator Hope Uzodimma, who won the party's primary election. APC chairmen from the 12 local government areas in Imo West described the judgement as "an undisguised travesty of justice".
According to the APC chairmen, led by Chief Austin Onyedebelu, the party's primary election on May 18, 2026, was supervised by INEC and produced Senator Uzodimma as the candidate with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha polled 1,098 votes. They stated that INEC published Uzodimma's name as the candidate on August 1, 2026. The APC chairmen alleged that Okorocha lodged no petition with the party's Primary Election Appeal Committee and raised no objection within the party, but instead filed a suit in Abuja.
The APC chairmen accused Okorocha and his "Abuja patrons" of forging a result sheet crediting him with 150,780 votes, which INEC described as fraudulent. They claimed that INEC handed the police a forged result sheet bearing Okorocha's name, which led to the court judgement. The APC chairmen vowed to defend the mandate of Imo West by every lawful means available to them.
Chief Onyedebelu explained that the party's primary election was monitored by INEC officials across the district, who filed their own reports. He stated that nobody who was in the field during the primary has disputed the result that produced Uzodimma as the candidate. Onyedebelu disclosed that Okorocha waited almost three months after the primary to file a suit in Abuja.
The APC chairmen appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose leadership they support, to look closely at the men behind the scheme to foist weak, incompetent, and unpopular leaders on the Southeast. They reiterated their loyalty to the President, the National Working Committee, and the State Working Committee, as well as their respect for the Nigerian judiciary.
The Imo APC chairmen alleged that there have been attempts to blight the light of the Southeast in the coming dispensation, including clandestine attempts to change Senate rules and scandalous attempts to deceive and manipulate the judiciary. They claimed that the goal is to halt the emergence of Senator Uzodimma as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The APC chairmen vowed to mobilise votes in Imo West and deliver them to Senator Uzodimma, adding that they intend to ensure that nobody stands in their way. They warned that those involved in the scheme will face the consequences, saying "a leopard does not change its spots".
Key points
- APC Imo state rejects court judgement declaring Okorocha as senatorial candidate
- Senator Uzodimma won party primary with 230,464 votes
- APC chairmen accuse Okorocha and his patrons of forging result sheet
