NDC aspirant drags party, INEC to Court over primary dispute

An Imo North senatorial aspirant on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Isaac Nwachukwu, has dragged the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, over the outcome of the party’s National Assembly primaries held in June.

In the suit filed through his counsel, C.J. Oguzie, Nwachukwu alleged that despite emerging as the consensus candidate for the Imo North Senatorial District, the party denied him its ticket and subsequently replaced his name with that of another aspirant.

The plaintiff claimed that he paid N5 million for the party’s nomination form and also made a N20 million financial contribution towards the party’s growth and development, bringing the total amount in dispute to N25 million.

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According to court documents, Nwachukwu is seeking a declaration that he is the duly recognised consensus candidate of the NDC for the Imo North Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election.

He is also asking the court to restrain the NDC from presenting or fielding any other candidate for the senatorial district apart from him, insisting that he emerged through a valid consensus process recognised by the party.

In addition, the suit seeks an order restraining INEC from recognising, accepting or processing the candidacy of any other individual for the Imo North Senate seat pending the determination of the case.

In an affidavit supporting the originating summons, Nwachukwu stated that he purchased the party’s expression of interest form to contest for the Senate seat and complied with all requirements stipulated by the party.

He further claimed that after purchasing the form, he made a N20 million contribution to support the party through a designated FCMB account, with the payment allegedly made through his solicitor.

The aspirant, however, alleged irregularities in the handling of contributions made by aspirants during the screening process.

According to him, the N20 million contribution he made was allegedly credited to another aspirant, Matthew Omegara, while the N10 million contribution reportedly made by Omegara was allocated to him.

He attributed the alleged discrepancy to the party’s screening committee, which he said was headed by former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu and Buba Galadima.

Nwachukwu maintained that he successfully participated in the party’s screening exercise and was cleared to contest the primary election.

He further claimed that following the ratification of his consensus candidacy, his name was shortlisted and published as the party’s candidate for Imo North Senatorial District.

The plaintiff expressed surprise that his name was later substituted with that of Omegara despite what he described as his lawful emergence as the party’s candidate.

In another claim contained in the affidavit, Nwachukwu alleged that the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson, invited him to a meeting where he was informed that former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa had complained through Peter Obi that he was not known politically and should not be fielded as the party’s candidate for the district.

The aspirant is therefore asking the court to compel the NDC to issue him a certificate recognising him as the party’s candidate for the Imo North Senatorial District in the 2027 election.

Neither the NDC, INEC, Peter Obi, Seriake Dickson, nor Achike Udenwa had publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.

The matter is expected to test the legality of candidate selection processes within political parties as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.