A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 29 for judgment in the suit filed by former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha challenging Governor Hope Uzodinma’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date on Thursday after parties adopted their processes and argued the case. Okorocha had urged the court to dismiss preliminary objections raised by the governor and the APC.
Uzodinma and the APC, represented by Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, respectively, asked the court to strike out the suit as statute-barred. They contended that it was filed outside the 14-day limit under Section 285(9) of the Constitution.
Okorocha, a former two-term governor and senator for Imo West from 2019 to 2023, filed the originating summons (FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026) on August 13 against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC and Uzodinma. His counsel is O.J. Aboje.
He is seeking determinations on whether INEC was bound by reports from its officials who monitored the May 18 primary, which he claims he won. If successful, he seeks declarations that the APC’s submission of Uzodinma’s name and INEC’s publication of it were unlawful and unconstitutional, an order setting aside the August 1 publication, a directive for INEC to recognise and publish his name instead, and a restraint on Uzodinma from parading himself as the candidate.
In a supporting affidavit, Amen Rochas, described as Okorocha’s son and personal assistant on political matters, stated that both men bought forms, were screened and cleared for the direct primaries. He said Okorocha won with 150,780 votes to Uzodinma’s 102,158. According to the affidavit, the APC National Working Committee instructed state chairmen of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee on May 17 not to announce results. APC letters and an INEC internal report allegedly reflected Okorocha’s victory, but INEC published Uzodinma’s name on August 1.
In a counter-affidavit, Lucky Ajokperiniovo, a member of the party’s election committee for the primary, said votes were recorded, collated and transmitted from wards through local government areas to the senatorial district returning officer, who declared Uzodinma the winner with 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098. The committee’s report was signed by all members on May 18, no petition was filed with the appeal committee, and the primary complied with the APC constitution, guidelines and the Electoral Act. He accused Okorocha of misrepresenting the outcome and noted that Uzodinma is not occupying paid legislative employment.
INEC, through its lawyer Hassan Umar, also opposed the suit. In a counter-affidavit by Assistant Chief Legal Officer Gyang Dung, the commission said its officials monitored the primary and reported that Uzodinma scored the highest votes and was declared winner. It received no complaint from any aspirant and denied signing exhibits tendered by Okorocha.
Uzodinma’s tenure as governor is due to expire at midnight on January 14, 2028, after the inauguration of the 2027 Senate.
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