APC Primary: Uzodimma Emerges Imo West Senatorial Candidate, Defeats Okorocha

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections after defeating former governor Rochas Okorocha in the party’s primary election.

The primary election was conducted across the 12 local government areas that make up the district and the result was officially announced at the Orlu Local Government Secretariat.

Chairman and Returning Officer of the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Imo State, Rear Admiral Williams Kayoda (retd.), declared Uzodimma winner after polling 230,464 votes, while Okorocha secured 1,098 votes.

“I hereby formally declare that Senator Hope Uzodimma, having satisfied all the requirements of the party constitution, guidelines and relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, is hereby declared the winner of the APC Imo West Senatorial District primary election,” Kayoda stated.

Imo West Senatorial District, popularly known as Orlu Zone, remains one of the most politically influential regions in Imo State. The district comprises 12 local government areas including Orlu, Oru East, Oru West, Oguta, Nkwerre and Ideato North.

Uzodimma previously represented Imo West in the Senate between 2011 and 2019 before emerging governor of Imo State in 2020. He is now seeking a return to the National Assembly following the completion of his second tenure as governor.

Former governor Rochas Okorocha, who also represented the district in the Senate after leaving office as governor, had insisted on participating in the primary election despite calls from some APC stakeholders for a consensus arrangement in parts of the state.

Speaking shortly after the exercise, Uzodimma described the primary election as peaceful, transparent and widely accepted by party members.

The governor expressed optimism that the APC would record significant victories during the 2027 general elections, stressing that the party had continued to strengthen its grassroots support across Imo State.