Orlu Senatorial Seat: Political War Erupts in Imo as Okorocha Battles Uzodimma
.........Court victory for former governor sparks fresh crisis in APC as 12 local government chairmen reject ruling and insist Uzodimma remains party’s candidate
The battle for the Imo West Senatorial District seat, popularly known as Orlu Zone, has erupted into a fierce political confrontation between former Governor Rochas Okorocha and incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma, exposing deepening divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The crisis intensified following a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja on Thursday, October 29, 2026, which recognised Okorocha as the winner of the APC senatorial primary and ordered the party to forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.
However, the ruling has triggered an immediate backlash from the Imo APC leadership, with the 12 local government chairmen in Orlu Zone openly rejecting the judgment and declaring their continued support for Uzodimma.
The development has transformed what began as a dispute over the party’s primary election into a high-stakes struggle for political control, party legitimacy and electoral supremacy in one of Imo State’s most influential senatorial districts.
Court Victory, Political Resistance
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in his judgment in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, held that evidence before the court established that Okorocha, rather than Uzodimma, won the May 18, 2026 APC primary.
The court consequently directed the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC and restrained Uzodimma from presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the senatorial election.
But the ruling has not ended the controversy.
At a press conference in Owerri on Friday, the 12 APC local government chairmen in Orlu Zone, speaking through the state party chairman, Austin Onyedebelu, described the judgment as unacceptable and insisted that Uzodimma won the primary.
The chairmen claimed that the governor secured 230,464 votes against Okorocha’s 1,098 votes, citing the result announced by the party’s primary election committee.
Their rejection has raised fresh questions about the authority of the court’s decision, the integrity of the primary election records and the extent to which the APC leadership is prepared to comply with the judgment pending any appeal.
Two Candidates, Conflicting Results
At the heart of the dispute are sharply conflicting accounts of the May 18 primary.
The result initially announced by the APC and recognised by INEC declared Uzodimma the winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha was credited with 1,098 votes.
However, Okorocha challenged the outcome, alleging that the party’s final declaration did not reflect the result of the primary.
In court, his camp presented documents which it claimed showed that he secured 150,780 votes against Uzodimma’s 102,158 votes.
The former governor maintained that the records transmitted to INEC supported his claim and questioned the circumstances under which the governor was declared the winner.
The APC and Uzodimma opposed his suit, arguing that the case was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed 14-day period for challenging primary election results.
INEC also disputed aspects of the documents presented by Okorocha, maintaining that its monitoring report indicated Uzodimma won the exercise.
The court’s decision has therefore brought the dispute to a critical legal and political crossroads, with the possibility of further litigation threatening to prolong uncertainty over the party’s eventual candidate.
Uzodimma’s Political Future Under Scrutiny
The controversy carries significant implications for Uzodimma, who is currently serving his second and final term as governor of Imo State.
His tenure is expected to end in January 2028, while the new National Assembly is scheduled to commence in June 2027.
Consequently, a successful senatorial bid would require him to relinquish his governorship before the completion of his current tenure.
Section 183 of the Nigerian Constitution prohibits a sitting governor from simultaneously holding another paid legislative office, raising a further constitutional question surrounding the governor’s ambition.
Okorocha has seized on the issue, arguing that the governor cannot occupy both positions and questioning the political wisdom of pursuing the senatorial seat while still in office.
The constitutional question, however, remains distinct from the dispute over the APC primary and the legal determination of who is entitled to the party’s nomination.
A Battle for APC’s Soul in Imo
Beyond the immediate contest for the senatorial ticket, the confrontation has reopened a longstanding political rivalry between the two former and current governors.
Okorocha governed Imo State from 2011 to 2019 before representing Orlu Zone in the Senate between 2019 and 2023.
Uzodimma, who previously represented the district in the Senate, succeeded him as governor in January 2020.
Their political relationship deteriorated during the struggle over Okorocha’s preferred successor, Uche Nwosu, and the subsequent emergence of Uzodimma as governor.
The latest dispute has once again placed the control of the APC’s political structure in Imo at the centre of their rivalry.
With the 12 local government chairmen backing Uzodimma and the court recognising Okorocha’s claim to the ticket, the party faces a potentially damaging internal division.
The outcome could influence not only the senatorial contest but also the APC’s broader political calculations in Imo State and the South-East.
What Happens Next?
The immediate challenge is whether the APC will comply with the court’s directive or pursue an appeal against the judgment.
The party’s state chapter has rejected the ruling, while Uzodimma’s camp has indicated its intention to challenge the decision.
Until the legal dispute is resolved, the identity of the APC’s eventual candidate remains a subject of intense political controversy.
For voters in Orlu Zone, the unfolding crisis raises fundamental questions about the credibility of party primaries, the authority of judicial decisions and the responsibility of political leaders to respect democratic processes.
The central issue is no longer simply whether Okorocha or Uzodimma will secure the senatorial ticket.
It is whether the APC can resolve its internal crisis through lawful and transparent means without allowing personal political rivalries to undermine the confidence of its members and the electorate.
As the battle intensifies, Orlu Zone has become the latest test of the APC’s ability to manage competing ambitions, enforce internal democracy and maintain party unity ahead of the 2027 elections.