ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election in the 2027 general elections.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday after ruling that Uzodimma did not win the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The judge held that evidence presented before the court established that former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the primary and should be declared the winner.

Consequently, Justice Egwuatu ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

The ruling followed a suit filed by Okorocha challenging the recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate for the senatorial seat.

In the suit, Okorocha disputed the outcome of the primary and challenged INEC’s decision to recognise Uzodimma as the winner.

The former governor maintained that he won the primary and sought an order compelling the electoral commission to recognise him as the party’s duly nominated candidate.

However, Uzodimma, the APC and INEC opposed his claims during the proceedings.

The court’s decision marks a significant development in the dispute over the APC’s senatorial ticket for Imo West ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The judgment directs the ruling party to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC, while Uzodimma has been ordered to stop parading himself as the party’s candidate for the district.