A senatorial aspirant for Imo North, Isaac Nwachukwu, on Wednesday dragged the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission before a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, seeking an order recognising him as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election.
Nwachukwu alleged that he was denied the party’s ticket despite paying ₦25 million to the NDC for party support and nomination forms.
According to him, he paid ₦20 million as support to the party and ₦5 million for the nomination form for the Imo North Senatorial District ticket.
The plaintiff claimed that his name was substituted with that of another aspirant despite emerging as the consensus candidate among other contenders.
Among the reliefs sought by Nwachukwu are, “A declaration that the plaintiff in this suit is the consensus candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Imo State with regard to the Imo North Senatorial Zone for the 2027 general election.
“A declaration that the first defendant (Nigeria Democratic Congress) be restrained from fielding any other candidate except the plaintiff in the election for the Imo North Senatorial Zone, as he is the consensus candidate for the said election.
“A declaration that the second defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission) be perpetually restrained from recognising and accepting the candidacy of any other person except the plaintiff in the Imo North Senatorial Zone election pending the determination of this matter.”
In an affidavit attached to the originating summons, Nwachukwu alleged that the funds he paid to the party were wrongly allocated to another aspirant, which he described as the first indication of irregularities in the process.
He said, “That the first sign of irregularity and non-compliance with the NDC constitution and the Electoral Act came up when the ₦20 million I paid for party support was allocated to one of the aspirants in my senatorial district, Matthew Omegara, while the ₦10 million that Matthew Omegara paid for party support was allocated to me by the screening committee headed by His Excellency, Sam Egwu, and Buba Galadima.
“That in compliance with NDC directives, I participated in the NDC screening exercise and was successfully cleared as an aspirant to participate in the primary election.
“That I purchased the expression of interest form to contest for the position of Senator representing Imo North Senatorial Zone. A copy of my expression of interest form is hereby annexed as Exhibit IU2.
“That upon the purchase of the expression of interest form, I made a monetary contribution in support of the party’s growth in the sum of ₦20 million into the party’s FCMB account through my solicitor, Cajethan Oguzie. A copy of the receipt for the ₦20 million payment is hereby annexed as Exhibit IU3.
“That after my consensus candidacy was ratified, my name was shortlisted as the candidate for Imo North Senatorial District. A copy of the result is hereby annexed as Exhibit IU5.”
Nwachukwu further alleged that his name was eventually substituted with that of another aspirant despite having been declared the winner of the primary election.
He also claimed that the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, summoned him to a meeting where he was informed that some party leaders from Imo State had argued that he was not popular enough to fly the party’s flag in the senatorial election.
The plaintiff is therefore asking the court to compel the NDC to issue him a certificate of return as its candidate for Imo North Senatorial District for the 2027 general election.
When contacted, the NDC spokesperson in Imo State, Dr Charles Akano, said he needed time to obtain authorisation before commenting on the matter.
However, three hours later, he said he had yet to receive approval to speak on the issue.
He said, “I have tried to call party leaders in Imo State, but they did not take my calls. I’m afraid I do not have authorisation to speak on the issue yet.”
