From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Hon. Isaac Nwachukwu, the Imo North (Okigwe) senatorial aspirant for the 2027 political dispensation under the political platform of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC has dragged the party and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State capital, over alleged gross irregularities experienced during the party’s National Assembly primaries held in June.
Nwachukwu filed the suit last Wednesday through his counsel, C.J Oguzie, accusing the Peter Obi’s presidential candidate political party of denying him its Imo North senatorial ticket after he emerged through a consensus in which he was later asked to pay N5m for the nomination form.
The aspirant also disclosed that he equally paid N20m in support of the party’s development but was surprised to notice that his support was reduced to N10m when the list of those who supported the party was published.
The suit sought the following reliefs ” a declaration that the plaintiff in the suit is the consensus candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC in Imo State with regards to the candidature of the Imo North senatorial zone in the 2027 General election.
“A declaration that the first defendant ( Nigeria Democratic Congress) be restrained from fielding another candidate except the plaintiff in the General election into 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, INEC) be perpetually restrained from recognizing and accepting the candidacy of another person except the plaintiff in the Imo North senatorial zone election pending the determination of the matter.”
In an affidavit in support of the originating summon, Nwachukwu stated”that I purchased the Expression of Interest Form to aspire for the position of Senate in the Imo North senatorial zone. A copy of my expression of interest form is here by 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 tune of N20m into the party’s FCMB account number through my solicitor, Cajethan Oguzie. a copy of the receipt of N20m is hereby annexed as exhibit 1U3.
“That the first sign of irregularity and no complaince with NDC constitution and electoral act came up when the N20m I paid for party support was allocated to one of the aspirants for my senatorial district by the name, Matthew Omegara and the N10m that Matthew Omegara paid for party support was allocated to me by the screening committee headed by His Excellencies Sam Egwu and Buba Galadimma.
“That in compliance with NDC’s directives, I participated in the NDC screening exercise and was successfully cleared as an aspirant to participate in the primary election.
“That after my consensus candidacy was ratified, my name was shortlisted as a candidate for Imo North district. A copy of the result is hereby annexed as exhibit 1U5.”
He stressed that his name was substituted with Omegara after he had been declared the winner of primary election.
The Imo North senatorial aspirant stated that the National leader of the party, Seriake Dickson summoned him for a meeting where he told him that a former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa complained to him through Peter Obi that he doesn’t know him and shouldn’t be fielded as the party’s candidate for Imo North senatorial district.
Among other demands, Nwachukwu is asking the court to Order NDC to issue him a certificate as its candidate for Imo North senatorial district.
