Abuja court adjourns indefinitely the terrorism-financing case against Bauchi Finance Commissioner Yakubu Adamu pending Chief Judge’s decision.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the recognition of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election in 2027 and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish former governor Rochas Okorocha’s name.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the ruling after finding that Uzodimma did not win the party’s primary election held on May 18, 2026.
The judge declared Okorocha the lawful winner of the primary and directed the APC to submit his name to INEC as its candidate.
He also set aside INEC’s publication of Uzodimma’s name and restrained the governor from presenting himself as the party’s senatorial candidate.
Justice Egwuatu held that Uzodimma’s nomination breached Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act and did not comply with the APC’s primary election guidelines.
The judge questioned the authenticity of documents submitted by the party, saying they contained conflicting accounts of how the primary was conducted.
According to the judgment, some documents indicated that Option A4 was used, while others stated that Uzodimma emerged through consensus or a direct primary.
The court held that documents certified and released to Okorocha showed he secured the majority of lawful votes cast across the 10 local government areas in the senatorial district.
The dispute followed conflicting claims over the primary results. INEC had recognised Uzodimma as the winner, with official figures showing he polled 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098.
A separate document later circulated, purporting to show that Okorocha won with 150,780 votes.
Okorocha subsequently challenged Uzodimma’s nomination and INEC’s recognition of the governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Reacting to the judgment, Okorocha’s counsel, O.J. Aboje, said the ruling had vindicated his client following allegations in the media that he forged documents.
Okorocha’s son and Special Adviser on Political Matters, Amen Rochas, also commended the judiciary, alleging that attempts had been made to influence the proceedings through fake news.
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