Nigerian Democratic Congress logo. Photo: NDC

There is growing confusion in the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress following the dispute between two candidates over the party’s ticket for Anaocha 1 Constituency for the Anambra State House of Assembly.

The Anaocha 1 Constituency, which is the Constituency of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has been in controversy as the serving member of the state Assembly, Nkechi Ogbuefi, is insisting that she is the candidate of the party for the 2027 election.

Addressing the controversy while speaking to journalists during a press briefing in Awka on Tuesday, Ogbuefi insisted that she took part in the primary election of the party and was duly nominated as the candidate of the party for the Constituency.

However, while Ogbuefi is insisting she is the authentic party’s candidate, her rival, Azubuike Okoye, is optimistic that his name is on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s register.

Ogbuefi, who is the Deputy Minority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, alleged that “one Azubuike Okoye has been parading himself as a candidate while in actuality, he neither purchased the form of the party, did not take part in the screening process nor did he participate in the primary elections of the party”.

“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.

“We had our primary elections, and it was resolved that all serving members must be given automatic tickets, and I, like other sitting members, were given our nomination forms and we took part in the primary elections of the party.

“After the primary elections, I was returned and duly nominated as candidate for Anaocha 1 Constituency. But one Azubuike Okoye has been parading himself as the candidate of the NDC while in actuality, he neither purchased the form of the party, did not take part in the screening process, nor did he participate in the primary elections of the party,” she added.

Continuing, Ogbuefi said Okoye, after buying forms in APGA and taking part in the primary of the House of Representatives, has been parading himself as the candidate of NDC for House of Assembly.

“Another candidate who heard that I was returned went to the Federal High Court, Abuja, and because it is an originating summon, the party came there to affirm me as the candidate of the party.

“The Court ultimately affirmed me as the winner of the primary elections of the party. The party also stated that at no time was Azubuike Okoye’s name submitted as a candidate.

“He did not purchase the form of the party, and he did not take part in the screening of aspirants of the party and did not participate in the primary elections.

She stated that the Chairman of the party in Anambra, Chief Ikem Uzoezie, said that she should ignore Okoye, that Peter Obi personally sent her name to him as candidate.

However, in a swift reaction to the allegations made by Ogbuefi, Azubuike Okoye stated that there is no need for exchanging words with anyone over the party’s flagbearer, adding that in the next one week, the Independent National Electoral Commission would publish the list of candidates for the election.

“I cannot say anything now, and I cannot say I am the candidate of the party and I don’t want to join issues with those people claiming to be candidates of the party in Anaocha Constituency 1 until the Independent National Electoral Commission publishes the list of candidates sent by the party to the Commission.

“So I want the reporters to remain calm because if I say that I am the candidate and INEC publishes another name, what sense does it make?”

However, when contacted over the telephone on Wednesday, the NDC state chairman, Ikem Uzoezie, did not disclose the name of the authentic candidate submitted to INEC by the party, urging aggrieved parties to exercise patience until the names of candidates are published next week.

When pressed further to mention the name submitted to INEC, he said, “INEC has uploaded Presidential and NASS candidates. By next week, the names of candidates for the State and House of Assembly will be published.

“So, when the names are published next week, the authentic NDC candidate for Anaocha 1 Constituency will be known, and the controversy will be clarified.”