Intrigue, Political Maneuvering Trail NDC Ticket for Obi’s Anaocha 1 Constituency in Anambra Assembly

Intrigue, political maneuvering and growing tension have continued to trail the battle over who will fly the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket for Anaocha 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly election, the immediate constituency of the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

The development is raising serious concerns among supporters and loyalists of the party’s presidential candidate, particularly because the constituency is regarded as his immediate political constituency.

The growing uncertainty over the NDC candidate for the constituency has heightened political tension in the area, with the incumbent member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi, insisting that she remains the duly nominated and elected candidate of the party for the forthcoming election.

The constituency, which is regarded as the political home constituency of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has become embroiled in controversy following competing claims to the party’s ticket by Ogbuefi and another aspirant, Mr Azubuike Okoye.

While Ogbuefi maintains that she participated in the party’s primary election and was duly nominated and elected as its candidate and Okoye urged supporters and political observers to wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the official list of candidates submitted by the party.

According to Ogbuefi, she participated in the NDC primary election and was duly nominated and elected the winner of the party’s primary for Anaocha 1 Constituency.

Ogbuefi, who is currently the Deputy Minority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, alleged that Okoye has been parading himself as the NDC candidate despite, according to her, not purchasing the party’s nomination form, participating in the screening exercise or taking part in the party’s 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 (NDC).
“We had our primary election, and it was resolved that all serving members must be given automatic tickets. Like other sitting members, I was given a nomination form, and we took part in the primary election.

“After the primary election, I was returned and duly elected as the candidate for Anaocha 1 Constituency,” she said.

Ogbuefi further alleged that Okoye, after purchasing forms in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and participating in the party’s primary election for the House of Representatives, subsequently began presenting himself as the NDC candidate for the Anambra State House of Assembly.

She also claimed that following her emergence from the NDC primary, a legal challenge was instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“Another candidate who heard that I was returned went to the Federal High Court in Abuja. Because it was an originating summons, the NDC came there to affirm me as the candidate of the party.

“The court ultimately affirmed me as the winner of the primary election 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, he did not take part in the screening of aspirants of the party, and he did not participate in the primary election,” Ogbuefi stated.

She further claimed that the Chairman of the NDC in Anambra State, Chief Ikem Uzoezie, had advised her to disregard Okoye’s claim, alleging that Peter Obi personally forwarded her name to the state chairman as the party’s candidate for the constituency.

Efforts to reach Uzoezie for his reaction were unsuccessful, as several telephone calls placed to the party chairman by reporters went unanswered.

Text messages and WhatsApp messages sent to him had also not received a response as of the time of filing this report.

Reacting, Mr Azubuike Okoye said only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list would resolve the dispute.

He cautioned against engaging in what he described as unnecessary exchanges, particularly over reports circulating on social media.

According to him, there was no need to engage in verbal exchanges with those making competing claims over the party’s ticket, as the official candidate list to be published by INEC would ultimately provide clarity.

He said that within the next one week, the electoral commission was expected to publish the list of candidates for the election, after which it would become clear who had been officially presented by the NDC to contest the Anaocha 1 Constituency seat.

“My brother, I cannot say anything now, and I cannot say I am the candidate of the party. 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 (INEC) publishes the list of candidates sent by the party to the Commission.
“So I want the reporter to remain calm because if I say that I am the candidate and INEC publishes another name, what sense does it make?” he said.

The competing claims have continued to generate uncertainty within political circles in Anaocha 1 Constituency, with attention now focused on the party leadership and the eventual candidate list to be released by INEC.

Beyond the immediate contest between Ogbuefi and Okoye, the dispute has also assumed wider political significance because Anaocha 1 Constituency is closely associated with Peter Obi, making the outcome of the NDC’s internal dispute potentially consequential for the party’s organisation and political standing in the constituency.

For now, both camps appear to be maintaining their respective positions, while the official records of the party and the electoral commission are expected to determine who will ultimately bear the NDC banner in the election.