A political support group for President Bola Tinubu, Renewed Hope Foot Soldiers for Tinubu (RHFST), has warned that the controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Imo West could affect the President’s electoral support in the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group, led by its National President, Gbenga Owojori, raised the concern in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, following a Federal High Court judgment recognising former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the APC’s duly nominated candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election.

The court ruled that Okorocha won the party’s senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026, and ordered the APC to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It also directed incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.

RHFST said the dispute had implications beyond the senatorial constituency, particularly for political calculations surrounding the leadership of the 11th National Assembly.

It argued that Uzodimma, a former senator, should be allowed to pursue his political ambitions in accordance with established party rules, noting that his supporters consider him a potential contender for the Senate presidency.

The group expressed concern that the dispute could create divisions within the APC and weaken efforts to consolidate the party’s support base in the South-East.

It also referred to allegations by some political actors that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, might be involved in efforts to frustrate Uzodimma’s political ambitions.

However, the group cautioned that the allegations should not be treated as established facts and insisted that the court judgment must be assessed on its legal merits. It also called for clarification of statements attributed to Wike concerning the Imo governor.

RHFST urged the APC leadership to ensure transparent nomination procedures and guarantee that aspirants were given fair opportunities to contest without interference intended to protect the interests of other politicians.

It warned that any perception of marginalisation could deepen dissatisfaction among party members and supporters in the South-East, weaken grassroots mobilisation and complicate Tinubu’s efforts to broaden his support ahead of the next presidential election.

The group maintained that the President’s second-term campaign would depend partly on party unity and the confidence of political allies across the country.

It therefore called for inclusive dialogue and transparent processes to resolve the dispute, stressing that the interests of the party and its regional partners should be protected.

Meanwhile, the court ruling has intensified the political disagreement between the camps of Okorocha and Uzodimma. The governor and the APC had opposed Okorocha’s suit, arguing that it was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed period.

The ruling may still be subject to further legal proceedings, with Uzodimma retaining the right to appeal.