I won’t surrender my senatorial ticket — Uzodimma
Governor Uzodimma Remains Committed to 2027 Senatorial Race
OWERRI, Nigeria — Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has reaffirmed his intention to contest in the 2027 Senatorial race, rejecting claims that he plans to relinquish his candidacy. He labeled these suggestions as “a lie” during remarks made after attending Mass at the Government House Chapel on Sunday.
Uzodimma’s comments come in the wake of a recent Federal High Court ruling that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove his name as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Imo West. The court, presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, based its judgment on findings that Uzodimma did not secure victory in the APC primary election held on May 18. The judgment awarded the candidacy to former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Despite the court’s ruling, the APC in Imo State has asserted that Uzodimma remains its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District.
Speaking at the Government House, Uzodimma encouraged residents to support the APC across all political levels, urging them to rally behind party candidates in the upcoming elections. “Go and campaign for the party, our great party, the All Progressives Congress. There is no other political party we are going with,” he stated.
He listed the party’s candidates for various positions, indicating that he is running for the Senate while calling attention to the House of Assembly and House of Representatives seats.
In a separate response to the court’s decision, Okorocha hailed the ruling as a triumph for the judiciary and democracy in Nigeria. In a statement from his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemodo, Okorocha praised President Bola Tinubu for fostering an environment where judicial independence can flourish, stating, “This judgment is a resounding victory for the nation’s judiciary and fast-growing democracy.”
Okorocha emphasized that the ruling serves as a significant milestone for the Constitution and reflected a triumph for the people of Imo, especially those in the Imo West Senatorial District.
The political landscape in Imo is expected to remain contentious as both Uzodimma and Okorocha prepare for the upcoming elections.
