Uzodimma Refuses to Give Up APC Senate Ticket After Court Ruling

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said he will not give up his senatorial ticket to former Governor Rochas Okorocha. This comes after a recent court ruling on the matter.

The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in October that Mr Uzodimma should no longer be the Imo West senatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. The court replaced him with Mr Okorocha.

While speaking on Sunday after Mass at the Government House Chapel in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, Mr Uzodimma called claims that he would give up his ambition “a lie,” according to Vanguard newspaper.

“If they tell you that I will hold this ticket and somebody will collect it and give it to another, tell the person it is a lie,” he stated.

The governor urged residents to support the APC to ensure its success across all levels. “Go and campaign for the party, our great party, the APC. There is no other political party we are going with.

“For the House of Assembly, it is APC. For the House of Representatives, it is APC,” he said.

He continued, “For the Senate, your senator in Okigwe zone is Patrick Ndubueze, in Orlu zone (Imo West District) it is my humble self (Hope Uzodimma), and in Owerri zone it is (Alex) Mbata.”

Mr Okorocha, on the other hand, praised the ruling that removed Mr Uzodimma, calling it a victory for the nation's judiciary and democracy. In a statement from his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemodo, he commended President Bola Tinubu for creating a good environment for the judiciary and other institutions.

“This judgement, to say the least, is a resounding victory for the nation’s judiciary. It is a victory for the nation’s fast-growing democracy. It is an outstanding victory for the nation’s constitution, as amended.

“It is a remarkable victory for all lovers of what is right and haters of what is wrong. It is a notable victory for posterity and history,” he said.

“Finally, it is a victory for Imo people in general, and Imo West Senatorial District people in particular.”

The court ruling and the clash between Mr Uzodimma and Mr Okorocha began after the APC primary election for Imo West District. The APC held its primary election on May 18, which Mr Uzodimma officially won and was recognized by INEC.

However, a different document later appeared showing Mr Okorocha as the winner of the same primary. This document claimed Mr Okorocha had 150,780 votes while initial results had Mr Uzodimma at 230,464 votes and Mr Okorocha at 1,098 votes.

In October, INEC’s Imo State Office reported the disputed document to the SSS and the Nigeria Police Force. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, called the document naming Mr Okorocha the winner “fictitious.”

The REC, who is a lawyer, insisted that the official report from the May 18 primary confirmed Mr Uzodimma as the winner. INEC had sent his name to the electoral body as its candidate.

The commission included both the official report and the disputed document in its petitions and asked security agencies to investigate the source and authenticity of the document.

In August, Mr Okorocha filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against INEC, Uzodimma, and the APC. He asked the court to decide if INEC was bound by reports from its officials who monitored the May 18 primary and if the commission was correct to recognize Mr Uzodimma as the winner.

Mr Okorocha also raised a constitutional question about Mr Uzodimma’s eligibility to run for the 2027 senatorial election while still serving as governor. Mr Uzodimma’s second term will end in January 2028, while the next Senate is set to start in June 2027.

Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution says a state governor cannot hold another executive position while in office. But, sources say Mr Uzodimma plans to resign before his term ends to pursue a Senate seat if he wins the elections.

After the court ruled against Mr Uzodimma as the APC senatorial candidate for Imo West District, the APC in the state maintained that the governor is still their candidate. The party’s spokesperson in Imo State, Jones Onwuasoanya, said they would study the court judgment before deciding on the next steps.

“The party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly,” Mr Onwuasoanya stated.