{
  "id": 17080287,
  "title": "APC insists Uzodimma remains Imo West candidate despite court ruling",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/apc-insists-uzodimma-remains-imo-west-candidate-despite-court-ruling",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T15:36:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/apc-insists-uzodimma-remains-imo-west-candidate-despite-court-ruling/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has maintained that Governor Hope Uzodimma is still the party's candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections, despite a Federal High Court ruling that recognized former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party's representative. The party communicated this stance in a press release on Thursday, responding to the court's decision. According to the court, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish Okorocha's name as the APC candidate and instructed Uzodimma to cease portraying himself as the party's candidate for the January 16, 2027 election. Despite the court's ruling, the APC asserted that Uzodimma remains its candidate, as he won the party's primary with majority support. The party's statement emphasized that \"His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, remains the candidate of our Party for Imo West Senatorial District.\" The party's legal team stated that they would review the ruling and decide on subsequent actions. Okorocha celebrated the court's victory over Uzodimma in the dispute over the Imo senatorial ticket. The APC also called on its members and supporters to stay committed to winning in the state's constituencies. The controversy originated from the APC senatorial primary held on May 18, 2026, where Uzodimma was declared the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha received only 1,098 votes, as per the results accepted by INEC. Okorocha contested the outcome in court, questioning Uzodimma's recognition as the party's candidate. The court's ruling held that Okorocha was the rightful winner of the primary and directed the APC to submit his name to INEC. The court also criticized discrepancies in the documents the party provided to back Uzodimma's nomination.",
  "summary": "The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its rightful candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District. According to Daily Post Nigeria, the party issued a statement through State Publicity Secretary Onwuasoanya FCC Jones asserting that Uzodimma emerged through a legitimate, monitored primary election and his name was submitted to INEC. The party maintains that Rochas Okorocha never emerged as the candidate and claimed the court was misled.\n\nThe party's stance follows a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that sacked Uzodimma as the APC candidate for the district. Premium Times reported that the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish former Governor Rochas Okorocha as the party's candidate.\n\nDaily Post Nigeria reports that the Imo APC intends to take immediate legal action to appeal and set aside the judgment. The party described the ruling as a temporary distraction and urged supporters and stakeholders in the Orlu zone to remain calm while their legal team works to restore Uzodimma as the candidate.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "APC reacts to court judgement sacking Uzodimma as senatorial candidate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/apc-reacts-to-court-judgement-sacking-uzodimma-as-senatorial-candidate",
        "published": "2026-10-29T14:32:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}