NDC Candidate Challenges Party Over Delta Primary Results

A House of Representatives candidate from the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency in Delta State, Julius Akbovoka, has asked the party’s National Executive Committee to ensure fairness in how the primary election results are handled.

Akbovoka shared this on Tuesday at a press conference in Abuja. He stated that the results from the various voting centres should be included in the final outcome of the election.

His request comes just a few days after the NDC said it does not accept the primary results being shared on social media.

On Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, told the public to ignore those results. He emphasized that only the National Executive Council has the right to announce the results from the primaries held on May 28 and 29.

Akbovoka said he held the press briefing because he had not received official confirmation of the primary results from the party. He mentioned that he joined the NDC on April 30 and took part in the party’s activities, including its convention and membership registration.

“I am not asking anyone to change the numbers in my favour. My request is that the results from the exercise should be properly reviewed and handled according to the party’s rules,” he said.

The aspirant also noted that he spoke with former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, about the situation. He said both leaders encouraged him to use the party’s internal dispute resolution methods.

Akbovoka believes in his grassroots support and urged the NDC leaders to maintain fairness, transparency, and democracy within the party.

He mentioned that he brought in thousands of members to the party in the constituency and later bought the expression of interest form to run for the House of Representatives seat.

Akbovoka, who has been a local government chairman, said the party screened and cleared him to participate in the primary election that took place across the three local government areas in the constituency.

He provided numbers he claimed were from the voting centres, stating that he received the highest votes during the election.

Akbovoka reported that he got 1,205 votes in Ughelli North, while his closest rival had 205 votes. In Ughelli South, he secured 350 votes compared to another contestant’s 285 votes.

He insisted that the election took place with security personnel and party officials present. He also added that he has documents and reports to back up the figures recorded during the exercise.