Gov Uzodimma vows not to surrender Imo West Senate ticket despite court ruling for Okorocha. State govt says it will appeal. What it means for Orlu voters.
Uzodimma Vows: I Will Not Surrender Senate Ticket To Anyone
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma vowed on Sunday, November 8, 2026, that he will not surrender his All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Imo West to anyone.
Uzodimma spoke after Mass at the Government House Chapel in Owerri, Owerri Municipal Local Government Area, Imo State. He was reacting to a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove his name as APC candidate for Imo West and replace it with former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
"I will never surrender my senatorial ticket to anyone," Uzodimma told worshippers and supporters after the service, according to Daily Post and other reports from Owerri.
Why This Matters To People In Orlu Zone
Imo West is also called Orlu Zone. It covers 12 local government areas, including Orlu, Oru East, Oru West, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Njaba, Nwangele, Isu, Nkwerre, Ideato North, Ideato South, and Oru.
Whoever wins the APC ticket for Imo West will be a strong contender for the Senate seat in the January 16, 2027 election. That Senator will speak for Orlu Zone in Abuja for four years - on roads, security, federal appointments, and constituency projects.
For traders in Orlu Market, farmers in Oguta, and students in Ideato, this is not just Abuja politics. It decides who carries their problems to the National Assembly.
What Changed? The Court Ruling
On October 29, 2026, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled that Okorocha won the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
The court held that Okorocha secured the majority of votes in that primary. It ordered INEC to replace Uzodimma's name with Okorocha's name, and restrained Uzodimma from presenting himself as the party's candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.
The judgment also faulted INEC for accepting Uzodimma's nomination despite what the court described as overwhelming documentary evidence that the governor did not win the primary.
That ruling is the reason for the tension in Owerri this weekend.
What Uzodimma Said In Owerri
After Mass on Sunday, Uzodimma dismissed suggestions that he could lose the ticket. He told supporters to disregard claims that he would step aside.
He also named the APC candidates he wants supporters to back in the three senatorial districts of Imo State:
- Okigwe Zone (Imo North): Senator Patrick Ndubueze
- Orlu Zone (Imo West): Himself - Hope Uzodimma
- Owerri Zone (Imo East): Alex Mbata
"For Senate, your senator in Okigwe Zone is Patrick Ndubueze, in Orlu Zone it is my humble self (Hope Uzodimma), and in Owerri Zone it is (Alex) Mbata," Uzodimma said.
He urged residents to campaign for the APC and declared that his political camp would not support any other party in the forthcoming elections. "For House of Assembly, it is APC. For House of Representatives, it is APC," he said.
The Other Side: What Okorocha's Camp And The Court Say
Okorocha has not spoken directly in Owerri since Sunday's declaration. His case, however, is already on record through the court.
The court says: Okorocha won the May 18 primary. INEC should have listed him, not Uzodimma.
Imo Media Hub has contacted the Okorocha camp for a direct response to Uzodimma's Sunday vow. As at time of filing this report, no direct response had been received. We will update this story when he responds.
The Other Side: What The State Government Says
The Imo State Government has said it will appeal the ruling.
That is the official position from the government side: the judgment will be challenged in a higher court, and Uzodimma remains the APC candidate while the appeal is pending.
This is important for voters to understand: a Federal High Court judgment is not the final word if an appeal is filed. Until the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court decides, both sides can claim the ticket - and that is why confusion is growing in Orlu Zone.
Why Did This Happen?
This fight did not start on Sunday. It started in May.
Two powerful APC camps in Imo claimed victory in the same primary on May 18, 2026. One camp submitted Uzodimma's name to INEC. The other camp, loyal to Okorocha, went to court with primary result sheets.
The court believed Okorocha's documents. Uzodimma's camp says the process was flawed and will appeal.
Behind it is a longer rivalry: Okorocha was governor from 2011 to 2019. Uzodimma succeeded him after a Supreme Court judgment in 2020. Since then, the two men have fought over control of APC in Imo State - over who decides candidates, who controls structures, and who speaks for the party.
The Senate ticket for Imo West is the latest battleground in that fight.
What Comes Next?
Three things will happen next:
1. Appeal: The Imo State Government and Uzodimma's camp are expected to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja. That court will decide whether to uphold or overturn Justice Egwuatu's judgment.
2. INEC Decision: INEC must decide whose name stays on its list while the appeal is pending. INEC has not yet issued a fresh public statement on the list as at Monday morning. INEC's final list will determine who appears on the ballot on January 16, 2027, unless the court orders otherwise.
3. Campaigns In Orlu: Both camps are already campaigning. Uzodimma told supporters on Sunday to campaign for APC candidates. Okorocha's supporters are also mobilising in Orlu, Oru, and Oguta, pointing to the court judgment as proof that their candidate is the lawful one.
For ordinary voters in Orlu Zone, the advice is simple: follow INEC's official list, not WhatsApp rumours. Do not pay anyone for a party card or promise of a ticket. Wait for the Court of Appeal.
What We Verified - And What We Did Not
Verified:
- Uzodimma spoke after Mass on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Government House Chapel, Owerri.
- The Federal High Court judgment of October 29, 2026, ordered INEC to replace Uzodimma with Okorocha.
- The State Government says it will appeal.
Not verified:
- Social media claims that Uzodimma has already withdrawn, or that Okorocha has already been sworn in as candidate. Both are FALSE. No withdrawal has happened. No final decision has happened.
Imo Media Hub will follow the appeal and update this story when INEC publishes its final list.
Do you live in Orlu Zone? Who do you think should carry the APC ticket - Uzodimma or Okorocha? Drop your LGA in comments: "Orlu - Uzodimma" or "Oguta - Okorocha". Let's hear from real voters, not Abuja noise.
This report originally appeared on Imo Media Hub - www.imomediahub.org
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- Daily Post Nigeria, Nov 9, 2026 - Uzodimma vow after Mass, Government House Chapel, Owerri
- The Nation, Nov 8, 2026 - PDP Rainbow Coalition rally, Iho, Ikeduru (for context on Owerri Zone politics)
- Federal High Court, Abuja - Justice Obiora Egwuatu, Judgment Oct 29, 2026 - Okorocha won May 18 primary
- Imo State Government statement - Will appeal the ruling.
