Imo West: The group welcomes the court ruling on Uzodimma, Okorocha

The Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence (AYPC) has described the Federal High Court ruling quashing the emergence of Governor Hope Uzodimma as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Imo West in the 2027 elections as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

The group also called on the APC leadership to comply with the court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Senator Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate for the senatorial constituency.

In a statement released by its national president, Comrade Haruna Bature, the group said the ruling reaffirmed the importance of internal democracy and the role of the judiciary in resolving electoral disputes.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, has reportedly ruled in case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026 that Uzodimma was not the winner of the APC primary elections conducted on May 18, 2026.

According to the statement, the court found that the nomination of the governor violated the provisions of the electoral law and party guidelines and directed INEC to publish Okorocha’s name as a validly nominated candidate.

Bature claimed that Okorocha had won the primaries but was denied a ticket by substituting his name.

“The Federal High Court demonstrated today that no matter how tall you are, you cannot steal a warrant that does not belong to you,” Bature said in the statement.

The group said the ruling should serve as a warning to political leaders against manipulating party primaries and imposing candidates on party members.

He added that the ruling had restored the political voice of people in Imo West, who they said had faced political intimidation.

The AYPC commended Justice Egwuatu for what it described as courage and professionalism, while also commending INEC officials for their role in monitoring the primary elections.

The group urged Uzodimma to respect the ruling and stop presenting himself as the APC senatorial candidate for Imo West.

He also called on the APC leadership to forward Okorocha’s name to INEC in accordance with the court’s directive.

“Democracy cannot survive where candidates are imposed. What happened today is a lesson that power belongs to the people and no manipulation can prevail over the will of party members,” the statement added.