Uzodimma Dismisses Claims of Losing APC Senatorial Ticket, Insists on Party Loyalty

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has dismissed speculation that he could lose his All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket, insisting that claims of another candidate replacing him are false.

Uzodimma spoke on Sunday after attending Mass at the Government House Chapel in Owerri, the state capital, where he urged residents to remain committed to the APC ahead of the forthcoming elections.

“If they tell you that I will hold this ticket and somebody will collect it and give it to another, tell the person it is a lie,” the governor declared.

He also called on residents to campaign for the ruling party, stressing that his political camp would not support any alternative party in the coming elections.

“Go and campaign for the party, our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). There is no other political party we are going with,” he said.

The governor further outlined the APC candidates he expects residents to support in the forthcoming legislative elections, declaring that the party would field candidates across the various constituencies.

“For House of Assembly, it is APC. For House of Representatives, it is APC,” Uzodimma stated.

He also named the party’s senatorial candidates for the three zones of Imo State, identifying Patrick Ndubueze for Okigwe Zone, himself for Orlu Zone, and Alex Mbata for Owerri Zone.

“For senate, your senator in Okigwe zone is Patrick Ndubueze, in Orlu zone it is my humble self (Hope Uzodimma), and in Owerri zone it is (Alex) Mbata,” he said.

Uzodimma’s declaration comes against the backdrop of a recent Federal High Court judgment in Abuja directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove him as the APC senatorial candidate for Imo West and replace him with former governor Rochas Okorocha.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment, ruled that Okorocha secured the majority of votes during the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18.

The court faulted INEC for recognising Uzodimma’s nomination despite what it described as overwhelming documentary evidence indicating that the governor did not win the primary election.

Okorocha had instituted the suit in August, challenging INEC’s recognition of Uzodimma as the party’s candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District.

Following the judgment, the former governor described the ruling as a victory for the people of Imo West and expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that the presidency was no longer backing the situation in Imo State.

He also praised the judiciary, declaring that the judgment demonstrated that “justice is no longer for sale to the highest bidder.”

Uzodimma’s senatorial ambition has continued to generate political controversy, with the court ruling adding a fresh dimension to the contest over the APC ticket in Imo West.