Imo senatorial aspirant sues NDC for ‘denying him party ticket despite N25m payment’

Isaac Nwachukwu, a senatorial aspirant for Imo north, on the platform of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has sued the party, seeking an order of the court to recognise his as the candidate for the 2027 general election.

In the suit filed before a federal high court sitting in Owerri, the Imo state capital, Nwachukwu alleged that he was denied the party’s ticket despite paying N25 million to the NDC for nomination forms and party support.

According to The Punch, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also joined as a defendant in the suit.

He alleged that his name was substituted with that of another aspirant despite emerging as the consensus candidate.

THE PRAYERS

Nwachukwu asked the court to restrain NDC from fielding any other candidate except him for the Imo north senatorial district.

He also sought an order restraining INEC “from recognising and accepting the candidacy of any other person except the plaintiff.”

“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,” part of the court document reads.

“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.

“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 N10 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 N20 million into the party’s FCMB account through my solicitor, Cajethan Oguzie. A copy of the receipt for the N20 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.” (TheCable)