Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Hope Uzodimma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the party’s senatorial ticket for Imo West ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, was filed on August 13, 2026, by Okorocha’s counsel, O.J. Aboje.

Okorocha, who served as Imo governor from 2011 to 2019 and represented Imo West in the Senate between 2019 and 2023, is challenging INEC’s publication of Uzodimma as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.

The former governor had contested the APC ticket against Uzodimma during the party’s May 18, 2026, national assembly primary election.

While Williams Kayode, chairman and returning officer of the APC primary election committee, declared Uzodimma winner with 230,464 votes, Okorocha is disputing the result.

In the suit, Okorocha is asking the court to determine whether INEC is bound by the reports of its officials who monitored the APC primary and whether the electoral body was right to publish Uzodimma’s name as the party’s candidate.

He is also relying on Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a governor cannot, while in office, hold another executive office or paid employment in any capacity.

Uzodimma began his second term as governor in January 2024, with his tenure expected to end in January 2028. However, the 11th National Assembly is scheduled to be inaugurated in June 2027, raising questions over whether he could simultaneously serve as governor and senator-elect if he wins the election.

Okorocha is asking the court to declare INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name unconstitutional and to set aside the electoral body’s declaration that the governor polled the highest number of votes in the primary.

He further wants the court to direct INEC to recognise and publish his name as the duly nominated APC candidate for Imo West.

The former governor is also seeking an order restraining Uzodimma, whether personally or through the APC or any other person, from presenting himself as the party’s nominated candidate for the 2027 election.

In an affidavit filed alongside the suit, Amen Rochas, son of the former governor, alleged that the May 18 direct primary was won by Okorocha with 150,780 votes, while Uzodimma scored 102,158 votes.

The suit therefore places the disputed APC senatorial primary and Uzodimma’s eligibility to contest while serving as governor before the court for determination.