The Imo State Government has rejected a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja declaring former governor, Rochas Okorocha, the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Imo West Senatorial District.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The state Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, described the ruling as “a complete travesty of justice” and announced that the government would challenge it at the Court of Appeal.

On Thursday, Justice Egwuatu ordered Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the Imo West senatorial election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

The judge ruled that Uzodimma did not win the party’s primary conducted on May 18 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the court, the evidence presented showed that Okorocha secured the majority of votes and should therefore be recognised as the winner. The judge also directed the APC to submit his name to INEC as its candidate for the election.

However, Emelumba accused the trial judge of disregarding established Supreme Court decisions in reaching the verdict.

He claimed that the court had been presented with precedents from the apex court stating that allegations of forgery and perjury could not be determined through an originating summons.

“But for unfathomable reasons, he chose to defy the authority of the Supreme Court to deliver judgment in favour of Okorocha based on affidavit evidence founded on forged documents,” the commissioner said.

Emelumba also argued that Okorocha’s case was filed outside the legally prescribed period, citing the Supreme Court judgment in Orji v. Chima, which requires anyone seeking to be declared the winner of a party primary to institute legal action within 14 days.

He noted that although the APC primary was held on May 18, 2026, Okorocha did not file his suit until August 13, 2026, a period of 87 days after the exercise.

The commissioner said the judge nevertheless dismissed the government’s preliminary objection, despite identifying the main issue for determination as the question of who won the primary election.

Emelumba maintained that the state government would pursue every available legal option to overturn the ruling.

“As law-abiding citizens, we would explore the judicial avenues available to set aside the Federal High Court ruling and recover our mandate,” he said.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to reject ethnic and other sentimental considerations when deciding who to support in the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Obi made the appeal on Thursday while addressing supporters at an NDC town hall and stakeholders’ meeting held at the Citi-Hub Centre in Mile 50, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

The former Anambra State governor urged his supporters not to vote for him simply because he comes from the South-East or belongs to the Igbo ethnic group.

He maintained that voters should judge candidates based on their competence and ability to lead the country.

“Let nobody divide the South-East. I don’t want the people of Ebonyi to vote for me because I am from the South-East. I don’t want you to vote for me because I am an Igbo person.

“My dear people, I want you to vote for me because I am qualified to be the President of this country. I want you to vote for me because I am the leading candidate,” he said.

Obi also criticised President Bola Tinubu, urging him to step aside from the presidency, while questioning his capacity to govern Nigeria.

The NDC candidate challenged Tinubu to visit Abakaliki and explain what his administration had achieved for the people of Ebonyi State in the past three years.

“I want President Tinubu to come to Abakaliki to tell the people what he has done in the past three years. I want him to come to Abakaliki to tell you what he used the money he has been borrowing to do for the past three years,” Obi said.

He also questioned the President’s reported time spent outside the country, arguing that Tinubu should travel across Nigeria to account for his administration’s performance.

“President Tinubu does not have the competence to run Nigeria. He does not have the energy to run Nigeria. He should pack his things, go home and rest,” he added.

Outlining his priorities ahead of the 2027 election, Obi promised to focus on national unity, security, education, healthcare, the fight against corruption and increased food production if elected.

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has vowed to take his campaign to the South-East despite claims that the region is firmly behind the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶