Rochas Okorocha has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for publishing the name of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the candidate for the Imo West senatorial district election scheduled for 2027.

Mr Okorocha, in the suit filed by his lawyer, O.J. Aboje, joined Mr Uzodimma and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The originating summons, filed on August 13, is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026.

The applicant, who is also a two-term governor of Imo State, posed five questions for determination.

He wants the court to determine whether INEC is not bound by the reports of its officers who monitored the APC primaries duly conducted on May 18 for the nomination of its candidate for the Imo West senatorial district for the 2027 general elections in which he emerged the winner.

He also wants the court to determine that having regard to the provisions of Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the publication of Mr Uzodimma’s name by INEC on August 1 as winner of the APC primary for the Imo West senatorial district in the 2027 poll was not wrongful.

Mr Okorocha, therefore, sought 10 reliefs should his questions be answered in his favour.

He urged the court to declare that it was unconstitutional for INEC to publish, as done by it on August 18, Mr Uzodimma’s name as APC’s candidate when it was not him that emerged as the winner of the primary election conducted on May 18.

He sought an order setting aside or voiding the publication made by INEC on August 1 which declared Mr Uzodimma as the person that won the highest votes in the APC’s primary election held on May 18 to contest as the preferred candidate for Imo West senatorial district in 2027.

Mr Okorocha prayed the court for an order directing INEC to recognise and publish his name as the duly nominated candidate of the APC to contest the poll.

He also sought an order prohibiting Mr Uzodimma, whether by himself or through the APC or anyone, howsoever named, from parading himself as the nominated candidate of the party to contest the election.

He equally sought an order awarding costs against the respondents, as the noble court may deem appropriate in all the circumstances of the suit.

In the affidavit attached to the suit which was deposed to by Amen Rochas, he said Mr Okorocha is his biological father.

He said by virtue of his position as Mr Okorocha’s personal assistant on political matters, he was conversant with the facts and circumstances stated by him.

He said the applicant (Okorocha), born on September 22, 1962, is a registered, financial card-carrying member of the APC.

He stated that Mr Uzodimma’s tenure in office as governor will expire at midnight on January 14, 2028, having taken the oath of office and sworn into office on January 15, 2024.

He said Mr Uzodimma, whose tenure would not have expired by the year 2027 when the Senate would be inaugurated after the 2027 general elections, also purchased an EoI and nomination forms for the party’s senatorial candidate.

He said the NWC directed that the results should be forwarded to the party’s national secretariat, as the same would be announced at the national secretariat.

He alleged that the direct primary election was conducted by the APC on May 18, and his father emerged victorious by scoring 150,780, while Mr Uzodimma scored 102,158 votes.

(NAN)