Senator Rochas Okorocha has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for publishing the name of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Imo West Senatorial District election scheduled for 2027.
Former Governor Okorocha, in the suit filed by his lawyer, O. J. Aboje, joined Uzodimma and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the originating summons, filed on Aug. 13, is marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.
The applicant, who is also a two-term governor of Imo, posed five questions for determination.
He wants the court to determine whether INEC was not bound by the reports of its officers who monitored the APC primaries duly conducted on May 18 for the nomination of its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District for 2027 general election in which he emerged the winner.
He also wants the court to determine that having regard to the provisions of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the publication of Uzodinma’s name by INEC on Aug. 1 as winner of APC primary for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 poll was not wrongful.
Okorocha, therefore, sought 10 reliefs should his questions be answered in his favour.
He urged the court to declare that it was unconstitutional for INEC to publish, as done by it on Aug. 18, Uzodinma’s name as APC’s candidate when it was not him that emerged as the winner of the primary election conducted on May 18 May.
He sought an order setting aside or voiding the publication made by INEC on Aug. 1 which declared Uzodinma as the person that won the highest votes in the APC’s primary election held on May 18 to contest as the preferred candidate for Imo West Senatorial District come 2027.
Okorocha prayed the court for an order directing INEC to recognise and publish his name as the duly nominated candidate of APC to contest the poll.
He also sought an order prohibiting Uzodinma whether by himself or through the APC or anyone, howsoever named, from parading himself as the nominated candidate of the party to contest the election.
He equally sought an order awarding cost against the respondents as the noble court may deem appropriate in all the circumstances of the suit.
In the affidavit attached to the suit which was deposed to by Amen Rochas, he said Okorocha is his biological father.
He said by virtue of his position as Okorocha’s Personal Assistant on Political Matters, he was very conversant with the facts and circumstances stated by him.
He said the applicant (Okorocha), who was born on September 22, 1962, is a registered, financial cardcarrying member of APC.
He stated that Uzodinma’s tenure in office as governor will expire at midnight of January 14, 2028, having taken oath of office and sworn into office on the January 15, 2024.
He said Uzodinma whose tenure would not have expired by the year 2027 when the Senate will be inaugurated after the general election in 2027, also purchased an EoI and nomination forms for party’s senatorial candidate.
He said his father, Uzodinma together with many other APC’s aspirants vying for tickets to be its flagbearers for various political offices in Nigeria, were all screened and cleared to participate in the direct primaries.
He said the NWC directed that the results should be forwarded to the party’ s national secretariat as same would be announced at the national secretariat
He alleged that the direct primary election was conducted by APC on May 18 and his father emerged victorious by scoring 150,780 while Uzodinma scored 102, 158 votes.
