The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled in favour of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha in the dispute over the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election.

In its judgment delivered on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the court directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the senatorial contest.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who presided over the case, held that Governor Hope Uzodinma did not win the party’s senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.

According to reports on the judgment, the court found that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the exercise, which was monitored by INEC.

The ruling also ordered Uzodinma to stop parading himself as the APC’s candidate for the Imo West seat in the forthcoming election.

The decision represents a major development in the political contest between the two prominent Imo politicians, whose disagreement over the party’s ticket has been the subject of legal proceedings.

Okorocha had approached the court in August to challenge INEC’s recognition of Uzodinma as the APC candidate. He asked the court to declare him the rightful winner of the primary and recognise him as the party’s flag bearer.

The dispute arose amid conflicting claims over the outcome of the May primary. INEC had earlier maintained that Uzodinma won the exercise and called for an investigation into documents presented as evidence that Okorocha emerged victorious.

The latest judgment addresses the APC’s nomination for the Imo West senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027. It does not, however, determine who will eventually win the election.

The court’s decision now places the party’s next steps under scrutiny as preparations for the 2027 general election continue.