Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has commented on a Federal High Court ruling concerning the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Imo West ahead of the January 16, 2027, election.
The court reportedly disqualified Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma from representing the APC in the senatorial contest and recognised former governor Rochas Okorocha as the winner of the party’s primary election.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who directed Uzodinma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate after determining that he had not won the primary conducted on May 18.
According to details of the ruling shared by Odinkalu, the court found that the evidence before it showed that Okorocha obtained the highest number of votes during the APC primary, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Reacting to the development, Odinkalu questioned whether the legal dispute might be connected to a broader political confrontation involving the Rainbow Coalition and APC governors.
In a post on social media, the human rights lawyer wrote, “Why does this feel like #ProxyWar between #RainbowCoalition vs. @OfficialAPCNg Governors?”
His comment has drawn attention to the political implications of the court’s decision, particularly given the prominent positions held by the two politicians involved in the dispute.
The ruling represents a major development in the battle for the APC’s Imo West senatorial ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections. Under the reported judgment, the party is required to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the district.
The controversy surrounding the primary election has persisted for several months, with conflicting claims emerging over who legitimately won the contest.
Earlier in October, INEC’s Imo State office reportedly maintained that its authentic report identified Uzodinma as the winner of the primary. The commission also approached security agencies over a separate document that allegedly identified Okorocha as the victor.
The latest judgment has therefore introduced a significant twist into the dispute, with the court’s findings favouring Okorocha despite the electoral commission’s earlier position.
The development could have important consequences for the APC’s preparations for the Imo West senatorial election, although any subsequent legal proceedings or appeals could affect the final outcome.
For now, the ruling has intensified attention on the internal disagreements surrounding the party’s ticket and raised fresh questions about the relationship between legal decisions and political interests ahead of the 2027 elections.
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