Uzodimma Speaks on Withdrawing From Senatorial Race
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has debunked reports that he may withdraw from the 2027 senatorial race following the Federal High Court judgment recognizing former governor Rochas Okorocha as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Imo West Senatorial District.
Uzodimma maintained that nobody could take the senatorial ticket away from him, insisting that he remained the party’s candidate.
The governor made his position known on Sunday after attending Mass at the Government House Chapel in Owerri, Imo State.
Addressing supporters, Uzodimma dismissed claims that he could lose the ticket to another aspirant and urged residents to disregard such reports.
He said anyone suggesting that another person would take over his ticket was spreading false information.
The governor also called on residents to support the APC in the forthcoming elections, declaring that his political camp would not enter into an alliance with another political party.
He urged supporters to campaign for APC candidates contesting for seats in the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.
Speaking on the senatorial seats, Uzodimma identified Patrick Ndubueze as the APC candidate for Imo North (Okigwe), himself for Imo West (Orlu) and Alex Mbata for Imo East (Owerri).
His comments came days after Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Uzodimma’s name from the list of APC candidates for Imo West and replace it with Okorocha’s.
The court ruled that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, faulting the party and INEC for recognising Uzodimma despite evidence presented during the case.
Okorocha, who governed Imo State between 2011 and 2019, had approached the court to challenge Uzodimma’s emergence as the party’s candidate.
Reacting to the judgment, the former governor described the decision as a victory for the people of Imo West and commended the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Government has indicated that it would challenge the court’s decision.
