Two Candidates Fight for NDC Ticket in Anambra Constituency

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

The Anaocha 1 Constituency is where the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, comes from. The current member of the state Assembly, Nkechi Ogbuefi, claims she is the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.

Ogbuefi spoke to journalists at a press briefing in Awka on Tuesday. She said she participated in the party’s primary election and was officially nominated as the candidate for the Constituency.

While Ogbuefi insists she is the rightful party candidate, her opponent, Azubuike Okoye, believes 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, accused Okoye of pretending to be a candidate. She said, "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."

She added, "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 continued, "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 said.

Ogbuefi claimed Okoye bought forms in APGA and took part in the primary for the House of Representatives. She said he has been acting like the NDC candidate for the 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," Ogbuefi explained.

She added, "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."

Ogbuefi stated, "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 mentioned that the party chairman in Anambra, Chief Ikem Uzoezie, told her to ignore Okoye. He said Peter Obi personally sent her name as the candidate.

In response, Azubuike Okoye said there is no need to argue about who is the party’s flagbearer. He added that in a week, the Independent National Electoral Commission will publish the list of candidates for the election.

Okoye said, "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."

He advised reporters to stay calm. He said, "If I say that I am the candidate and INEC publishes another name, what sense does it make?"

When contacted on Wednesday, the NDC state chairman, Ikem Uzoezie, did not reveal the name of the real candidate sent to INEC. He urged everyone to be patient until the names of candidates are published next week.

When pressed about 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."

He added, "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."