Confusion has deepened within the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the party’s candidate for Anaocha 1 Constituency in the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly election, as incumbent lawmaker Nkechi Ogbuefi and Azubuike Okoye lay competing claims to the ticket.
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The dispute has attracted particular attention because Anaocha 1 is the constituency of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Ogbuefi, who currently represents the constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly and serves as Deputy Minority Leader, has insisted that she emerged from the party’s primary election and was duly nominated as its candidate for the 2027 poll.
Speaking at a press briefing in Awka on Tuesday, the lawmaker alleged that Okoye had been parading himself as the NDC candidate despite, according to her, neither purchasing the party’s nomination form nor participating in its screening and primary election.
“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 said.
According to her, the party had resolved that serving lawmakers would be given automatic tickets, after which she obtained the relevant nomination forms and participated in the primary election.
“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,” she said.
Ogbuefi alleged that Okoye did not participate in any of the processes that produced the party’s candidate.
“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.
The lawmaker further alleged that Okoye had earlier purchased nomination forms in the All Progressives Grand Alliance and participated in a House of Representatives primary before subsequently laying claim to the NDC House of Assembly ticket.
Ogbuefi also referred to litigation instituted by another aspirant following the primary election, saying the party appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja and affirmed her as its candidate.
“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,” she said.
She maintained that Okoye neither purchased the party’s form nor underwent screening or participated in the primary election.
Ogbuefi further claimed that the NDC Chairman in Anambra State, Chief Ikem Uzoezie, had advised her to disregard Okoye’s claim and told her that Peter Obi personally forwarded her name to him as the party’s candidate.
Okoye, however, declined to engage Ogbuefi in a public exchange over the ticket, saying the controversy would be settled when the Independent National Electoral Commission publishes the official list of candidates.
“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 said.
Okoye urged journalists and supporters to wait for INEC’s publication rather than rely on competing claims.
“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?” he asked.
The controversy remained unresolved on Wednesday after the NDC state chairman, Uzoezie, declined to disclose the name submitted by the party to INEC.
When contacted, Uzoezie urged the parties involved to exercise patience until INEC publishes the list of State House of Assembly candidates.
“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 said.
According to the chairman, INEC’s publication will determine who is officially recognised as the NDC candidate for Anaocha 1 Constituency.
“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,” Uzoezie said.
For now, both camps are awaiting INEC’s publication of the candidates’ list, which is expected to resolve the competing claims over the NDC ticket in Peter Obi’s home constituency.
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