A court has removed Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West senatorial district, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Rochas Okorocha as the party’s official candidate.
The decision follows a legal challenge regarding the outcome of the APC’s primary election for the senatorial seat. The presiding judge ruled that the primary election results actually favoured Mr Okorocha rather than Mr Uzodimma, making the latter’s candidacy invalid under party rules.
This judicial intervention forces a significant change in the APC’s candidate lineup for the district, potentially disrupting the political arrangements within Imo State ahead of the upcoming elections. The court’s mandate requires INEC to amend its records to reflect the rightful winner of the party’s internal contest.
Court orders INEC to substitute candidate
The legal dispute arose from conflicting claims regarding the APC’s Imo West senatorial primary election. While Uzodimma had been presented as the party’s nominee, the court found evidence indicating that Okorocha was the legitimate victor of the primary process.
By issuing a direct order to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the court has moved to ensure that the electoral processes align with the actual results produced during the party’s internal primary. This move places the electoral umpire in a position where it must now implement the substitution of the candidate’s name on the official list of aspirants for the Imo West constituency.
The ruling is expected to have immediate implications for the APC’s campaign strategy in the region. The substitution of a candidate at this stage often leads to administrative hurdles for INEC and can create friction within the party’s local structures as they adjust to the court’s mandate.
Political analysts suggest that the victory for the Okorocha camp could shift the balance of power within the state’s political landscape. The decision addresses a long-standing tension regarding the leadership and candidate selection processes within the party’s Imo State chapter.
The legal teams for the affected parties are expected to review the judgement for possible grounds of appeal. While the current order compels INEC to act, any application for a stay of execution by Uzodimma’s legal representatives could delay the implementation of the court’s decision.
As of the time of this report, INEC has not released an official statement regarding the timeline for the substitution of the candidate’s name in its database.
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