The federal high court in Abuja has ordered Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop parading himself as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Imo west senatorial district in the 2027 elections.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, on Thursday, held that the evidence before the court shows that Uzodimma did not win the APC Imo west senatorial district primary

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish the name of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

The judge gave the orders in his judgment on a suit filed by Okorocha challenging Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate.

Justice Egwuatu held that evidence before the court established that Okorocha won the May 18, 2026 APC primary election monitored by INEC.

The court consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the election.

The dispute followed conflicting claims over the outcome of the party’s primary, with INEC’s official results recognising Uzodimma as the winner with 230,464 votes, against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes.

Okorocha challenged the outcome in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, questioning INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma and raising issues concerning the governor’s eligibility to contest the senatorial election while in office.

Citing section 183 of the 1999 constitution, Okorocha asked the court to determine whether the publication of Uzodimma’s name by INEC as winner of the primary was lawful.

Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution states that: “The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”

The federal high court in Abuja has ordered Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop parading himself as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Imo west senatorial district in the 2027 elections.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, on Thursday, held that the evidence before the court shows that Uzodimma did not win the APC Imo west senatorial district primary.

Details later…

1. The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed that it will determine the fate of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Ladi Adebutu and other politicians omitted from its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections at its next meeting on Thursday.

INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in an exclusive chat with The PUNCH on Wednesday.

Pantami is contesting the Gombe governorship election, while Adebutu is contesting the Ogun governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

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4. The General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Auwalu Mahmuda, on Wednesday visited troops deployed around Old Oyo National Park and urged them to sustain their operational tempo against criminal elements.
Mahmuda, who gave the advice at the Forward Operating Base in Igbeti, Olorunsogo Local Government Area of Oyo State, further urged the troops to effectively dominate the area by denying criminal elements freedom of action.

5. ‎Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has vowed to take on those who manipulate elections, declaring that his camp will “rig those who rig” the 2027 polls. ‎Obi made the declaration on Wednesday at an NDC town hall meeting in Nasarawa State, where he outlined his plans to tackle electoral malpractice and ensure accountability if elected president.

6. An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced Idris Ashimiyu to life imprisonment for defiling an 11-year-old girl. Justice Abiola Soladoye handed down the sentence on Wednesday after finding Ashimiyu guilty of a one-count charge of defilement. During arraignment, the convict had pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him by the Lagos State Government

7. Transport and defence projects will take $13 billion of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed $21.7 billion supplementary external borrowing for 2026-2027, the Federal Government said yesterday. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, added that the proposed borrowing plan was designed to finance infrastructure and other investments that would create assets and wealth exceeding the cost of the loans

8. The leadership of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, on Wednesday rejected the proposed N70,000 transportation allowance for workers by the Federal Government. The Congress, which described the government’s plan as “haphazard measures” of cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal, demanded immediate salary increment for workers.

9. The African Democratic Congress has postponed its presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto State, earlier scheduled for Saturday, October 31 to Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The postponement was announced in a statement issued by the ADC Presidential Campaign Council in Sokoto State, which attributed the decision to planning and coordination considerations.

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