‎Imo APC Crisis: 12 LG Chairmen Reject Court Ruling, Back Uzodimma Against Okorocha

The political crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has intensified, as the 12 local government chairmen in Imo West Senatorial District have rejected a Federal High Court judgment recognising former Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.

‎The chairmen reaffirmed their support for Governor Hope Uzodimma, insisting that he won the party’s May 18, 2026, senatorial primary and remains their preferred candidate for the January 16, 2027, election.

‎They made their position known on Friday during a press conference in Owerri, where they described the court judgment as a miscarriage of justice and an attempt to undermine the political interests of the South-East.

‎Speaking on behalf of the chairmen, the Imo APC Chairman, Austin Onyedebelu, said they rejected the ruling, describing it as a political conspiracy against the region.

‎“We reject this judgment in its entirety because it is an undisguised travesty of justice. It is a political robbery clothed in legal robes, the latest instalment of a satanic scheme hatched by Abuja politicians against the South-East,” he said.

‎The development followed Thursday’s judgment by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified Uzodimma’s nomination and declared Okorocha the winner of the APC senatorial primary.

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‎The court held that Okorocha presented sufficient evidence to establish that he won the exercise, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

‎It subsequently ordered the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC and directed the commission to publish him as the party’s validly nominated candidate. The court also restrained Uzodimma from parading himself as the APC candidate for the senatorial election.

‎However, the 12 local government chairmen maintained that they witnessed the primary election and that Uzodimma defeated Okorocha by a wide margin.

According to them, the governor secured about 230,000 votes, while the former governor polled only 1,098 votes in the exercise.

‎“For the avoidance of doubt, we NEVER VOTED FOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA,” Onyedebelu declared.

‎The chairmen also accused Okorocha of bypassing the party’s internal appeal mechanism and approaching the court to challenge the primary outcome.

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‎They urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the dispute, warning that the controversy could further weaken the APC’s political standing in the South-East.

‎Describing Uzodimma as the backbone of the APC in the region, the chairmen called on the party’s national leadership to address the crisis before it escalated.

‎Meanwhile, the Imo State chapter of the APC has also rejected the judgment, insisting that Uzodimma remains its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.

‎The party’s Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, said its legal department would study the ruling and determine the appropriate steps to take.

‎Uzodimma’s camp has also indicated its intention to appeal the judgment, with a source close to the governor insisting that he would contest the January 16, 2027, election

‎The APC national secretariat in Abuja had yet to issue an official statement on the ruling as of the time of filing this report.

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‎Reacting to the judgment, Okorocha, through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, described the decision as a victory for democracy.

‎He thanked President Tinubu and the APC leadership for providing an environment in which party members could seek legal redress.

‎The former governor also dismissed speculation about his possible arrest, insisting that the court had affirmed the authenticity of his documents.

Okorocha maintained that INEC only monitors party primaries and does not conduct them, arguing that the results transmitted to the commission’s headquarters showed that he won the exercise.

‎He further claimed that he obtained certified copies of the primary documents from INEC on July 22, 2026, while the documents supporting Uzodimma’s claim emerged on August 22.

‎According to him, the documents contained discrepancies, including an incorrect date for the primary and the description of Uzodimma as a consensus candidate rather than the winner of a direct primary.

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‎Uzodimma’s camp had yet to respond to the allegations.

‎The legal battle also featured arguments by the governor’s lawyers that Okorocha filed his suit outside the 14-day period allowed for challenging party primary results.‎

‎They contended that the former governor instituted the case 87 days after the exercise.

‎However, Okorocha dismissed the argument, saying he only approached the court after obtaining certified documents from INEC indicating that he had won the primary.

‎“I can’t sue myself as a winner,” he said.

‎Beyond the dispute over the senatorial ticket, Uzodimma’s continued tenure as governor has raised additional questions about his potential transition to the Senate.

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The governor, who was first sworn in on January 15, 2020, and re-elected in November 2023, is expected to remain in office until January 2028.

‎However, the new Senate is scheduled to commence legislative activities in June 2027, several months before the expiration of his governorship tenure.

‎Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, prohibits a sitting governor from holding another executive office or paid employment simultaneously.

Speaking on Channels Television, Okorocha argued that Uzodimma could not occupy both positions at the same time.

“You cannot hold two paid jobs,” he said.

‎The former governor also criticised Uzodimma’s leadership and questioned his political popularity in Imo State and the South-East.

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‎He described the governor as an opportunist and accused him of prioritising political ambition over governance.

‎Okorocha further challenged Uzodimma to a popularity contest, saying both politicians should meet the electorate to determine who enjoys greater grassroots support.

‎“Let’s move out and call the people and see what will happen,” he declared.

‎He also urged the governor to concentrate on governing Imo State rather than pursuing multiple political ambitions.

‎On national politics, Okorocha called on people of the South-East to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, arguing that the region should embrace political partnerships rather than confrontation.

‎Although he described Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), as his brother, Okorocha said the South-East needed to adopt a strategic political approach.

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‎He also praised the proposed political coalition associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying he would support efforts to bring opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, behind Tinubu.

‎Okorocha maintained that the court judgment had vindicated his position, insisting that he remained the rightful APC candidate for Imo West.

‎“I think justice spoke louder than he could imagine,” he said.‎