Why Rochas Okorocha sue Inec over Imo West senatorial seat wey Hope Uzodimma dey run for

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Former govnor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, don carry di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), di ruling All Progressives Congress and di current govnor Hope Uzodimma go court sake of di Imo West senatorial seat.

Okorocha ask di court to give Inec order make dem comot Uzodimma name as di candidate of di APC for dat senatorial election and put im name instead.

Di former two-time govnor of Imo State insist say na im win di primary election for di senatorial district, and say Inec dey wrong to put for dia portal say na Uzodinma win.

E claim say even di report of di Inec officers wey bin monitor di APC primary on 18 May 2026, show say na im win, and say Inec suppose dey bound by di report of dia own staff.

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For di supporting affidavit wey dey signed by Amen Okorochas, wey be son to former govnor Rochas Okorocha and also im Personal Assistant on Political Matters, e claim say di former govnor get 150,780 votes for di primary election, while Uzodimma get only102,158 votes.

Di affidavit also point out say as di serving govano, Uzodimma tenure suppose expire on 14 January 2028, so e suppose still dey for office by di time dem go inaugurate di new senate cycle in 2027.

Therefore, oga Rochas Okorocha ask di court to determine dis following ogbonge issues:

  • Weda e dey lawful for di APC to submit to Inec di name of Uzodimma as dia candidate for di Imo West Senatorial election, wen no be him win di primary election
  • Weda e dey lawful for Inec to accept and publisg Uzodimma name as di APC candidate for di election even though e no win di primary
  • Weda im wey be di winner of di primary election no suppose be di one wey Inec suppose recognise and publish im name as di candidate for di senatorial election

Okorocha den ask court to give order based on di constitution of Nigeria and di 2026 amended electoral act, say:

  • E dey unconstitutional and unlawful for Inec to receive Uzodimma name from di apC and publish am as di winner of di APC primary election for Imo West senatorial district wey hapun on18 May 2026
  • Make APC forward im (Okorocha) name to Inec and make dem publish am as di APC candidate for di election
  • Make court give Uzodimma order to stop to dey parade imsef as di APC candidate for di Imo West senatorial election, bicos no be im win primary
  • Make di court award damages of any amount wey dem decide, against Inec, di APC and Uzodimma sake of di court mata.

Okorocha lawyer, O.J Aboje, file di mata for court on 13 August 2026, but e no dey clear weda dem do assign di case to any Judge yet, especially now wey most of di judges of di Federal High Court dey on dia annual vacation.

Usually, for important mata dem, two or three judges dey normally stay back to work as vacation judges.

Imo West senatorial seat

Many pipo bin dey surprise wen Govnor hope Uzodimma bin pick form say e wan contest for di 2027 senatorial election for Imo West.

Dis na bicos di govnor still get more dan one year remaining for im second tenure as gonor, and dat term suppose expire by January 2028, while di senatorial election na January 2027, and di inauguration of di new senate cycle go be around June or July of 2027.

Di govnor neva come out to explain how e want take do am bicos di Nigeria law no permit make pesin hold two elected offices for di same time.

Howeva, some sabi pipo dey analyse say weda di govnor go resign if e win di senatorial election, and allow im deputy to complete di remain period. Some unconfirmed tori dey even tok say Uzodimma fit dey eye di Senate President position for 2027.

On di oda hand, Okorocha dey struggle to get bak di Imo West senatorial seat wey e bin win as im tenure as govnor expire, but e later lose am to di Osita Izunaso wey dey currently represent dat senatorial district now for di National assembly.

Izunaso na padi man of Hope Uzodimma, so as di govnor declare interest say e wan contest for di seat, im no even pick form at all.