Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
A fresh crisis is rocking the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) following the alleged replacement of the House of Representatives candidate on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
Recall that the National Election Committee led by Dr. Osusu Osusu had on 29 May 2026 conducted a direct primary to elect the House of Representatives candidate for Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1.
The electoral committee publicly declared Prince Abele Wobo winner with 292 votes.
However, a group, the Social Accountability Forum in a statement issued Sunday and jointly signed by its Coordinator, Elechi Kingsley, and Secretary, Godspower Nyebuchi said despite the declaration, the name of Hon. Manuchim Umezurike, the current member representing the Constituency, was uploaded on the INEC portal in place of Prince Wobo.
The group noted: “Prince Abele Wobo lawfully emerged as the candidate of the NDC for Port Harcourt Constituency 1. The result was announced publicly by the Chairman of the National Electoral Committee, Dr. Osusu Osusu.”
The group alleged that Hon. Umezurike did not participate in the primary as he was still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time.
“Having been denied a return ticket by the APC, some people in the NDC are now in connivance to legitimize an illegality. They are trying to forge documents to support the substitution since the matter is already in court,” the group stated.
The group claimed that pressure was mounted on Dr. Osusu to recant the result and issue a new one in favour of the substituted candidate, but he allegedly refused.
“They are now trying to discredit and disclaim the entire primary conducted by Dr. Osusu Osusu because he refused to compromise his integrity.”
The group described the development as a direct assault on internal democracy, warning that it could destroy public trust in the party ahead of 2027.
It called on the NDC national leadership to immediately correct the anomaly and restore Wobo’s name on the portal to preserve the integrity of the party and electoral process.
The group added: “It is undemocratic and dangerous to conduct an open primary, declare a winner, and then substitute him in the dead of night. That is the definition of impunity.”
it noted that the matter has been taken to court, with Umezurike reportedly served through substituted means.