A dispute over the Nigeria Democratic Congress ticket for Anaocha 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly has created uncertainty within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The controversy involves the incumbent lawmaker, Nkechi Ogbuefi, and Azubuike Okoye, both of whom have been linked to the party’s ticket for the constituency.
Ogbuefi, the Deputy Minority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, told journalists in Awka on Tuesday that she participated in the party’s primary election and was duly nominated as its candidate.
She alleged that Okoye did not purchase the NDC nomination form, undergo the screening process or participate in the party’s primary election, but had been presenting himself as the candidate.
“I joined Mr Peter Obi when he went to the Labour Party and also joined him when he became a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress,” Ogbuefi said, adding that serving lawmakers were given automatic tickets and subsequently participated in the party’s primary.
According to her, a Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed her as the winner of the party’s primary after another aspirant challenged her nomination. She also claimed that the party told the court that Okoye’s name had never been submitted as its candidate.
However, Okoye rejected the need for a public dispute, saying he would wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish the official list of candidates before commenting further.
“I don’t want to join issues with those people claiming to be candidates of the party in Anaocha Constituency 1 until INEC publishes the list of candidates sent by the party,” he said.
NDC Anambra State Chairman, Ikem Uzoezie, also declined to disclose the candidate submitted to INEC. He said the commission was expected to publish the names of candidates for state Houses of Assembly constituencies the following week.
“When the names are published next week, the authentic NDC candidate for Anaocha 1 Constituency will be known, and the controversy will be clarified,” Uzoezie said.
