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Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has secured a major political victory after defeating former governor Rochas Okorocha in the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary for Imo West Senatorial District, popularly known as Orlu Zone. The highly anticipated contest, conducted through the APC’s Option A4 voting system on Monday, ended in a landslide victory for the governor, further strengthening his grip on the party structure in Imo State ahead of the 2027 general elections. 
According to results announced by the Chairman and Returning Officer of the National Assembly APC Primary Election Committee for Imo State, Rear Admiral Williams Kayode (retd.), Uzodimma polled 230,464 votes while Okorocha managed 1,098 votes across the 12 local government areas of Orlu Zone. Party officials stated that voting took place across hundreds of wards in the district, with many aspirants in other senatorial zones stepping down for consensus candidates before the exercise began. However, Okorocha insisted on contesting against the governor despite growing endorsements in favour of Uzodimma before the primary. 
The outcome marks another chapter in the long-running rivalry between both political heavyweights, whose battle for dominance within the Imo APC dates back several years. Their feud became more intense during the controversial 2018 APC governorship primaries, when factions loyal to Okorocha and Uzodimma openly clashed over the party’s governorship ticket. Okorocha, who served as governor from 2011 to 2019 and later represented Imo West in the Senate, had remained one of the most influential political figures in the state despite internal divisions within the APC. 
Political observers believe Uzodimma’s victory further consolidates his influence not only within Imo State politics but also nationally, especially as he currently serves as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. Analysts also say the result could reshape political alignments across the South-East ahead of the next election cycle, with many of Okorocha’s former loyalists already aligning themselves with the governor’s political camp. The APC primary in Imo West was widely regarded as one of the most closely watched senatorial contests in the country because it featured two former holders of the same Senate seat battling for political supremacy once again. 
