Aspirant Rejects NDC Reps Primary Result, Claims Electoral Victory in Delta Constituency

Fresh tension has emerged within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following a disputed House of Representatives primary for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency of Delta State, as aspirant Julius Efeni Akbovoka insists he was the rightful winner of the exercise.
Akbovoka, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, challenged the party’s official position, alleging that results collated from polling centres showed he secured the highest number of votes in the contest.
He maintained that figures gathered from across the three local government areas in the constituency placed him ahead of other contestants, with a cumulative tally he said reflected the true outcome of the primary election.
According to him, he polled 1,205 votes in Ughelli North, 350 in Ughelli South and 283 in Udu Local Government Area, bringing his total to 1,840 votes, which he insists was recorded in the presence of party officials and security agents.
The aspirant expressed concern that despite what he described as clear field results, the party had yet to formally communicate an official position or provide clarity on the final outcome of the primary.
“The issue is not about favour or special treatment,” he said. “What we are asking for is that the votes cast by party members be properly reflected in line with the rules and procedures of the party.”
Akbovoka disclosed that he had already lodged a petition before the party’s appeal committee, seeking a review of the exercise, while also claiming efforts to obtain clarification from both state and national leadership of the NDC had not yielded a definitive response.
He noted that he joined the party earlier in the year after resigning from his former political platform, adding that he played an active role in mobilising members and participating in the party’s screening process ahead of the primaries.
The aspirant also said he had engaged senior political figures, including former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, who he claimed advised him to pursue internal dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Political observers say the dispute highlights early tensions over internal democracy within the NDC, with the handling of post-primary grievances seen as a key test of the party’s credibility and cohesion ahead of future elections.
While intra-party disagreements are common after primaries, analysts note that unresolved disputes often expose deeper cracks in party structures and candidate selection processes.
For Akbovoka, however, the matter remains simple: the votes, he argues, should determine the winner, and party leadership must ensure that the declared outcome reflects the will of delegates who participated in the process.
As of press time, the NDC had yet to issue an official response or indicate when its appeal committee would conclude deliberations on the disputed primary.