A group within the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC Concerned Movement, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its firmness in defending the Electoral Act on membership of political parties in Nigeria.
The group gave the commendation to express appreciation over the Supreme Court judgment of September 2026.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the coordinator Abia Central NDC Concerned Movement, Mr. Chiadikaobi Alusigwe, hailed the commission’s doggedness in defending the provisions of the Electoral Act that culminated in the landmark judgment.
He said, “We came here to register our commendation to INEC for its efforts in protecting Abia Central and democracy at large in Nigeria. Your doggedness and firmness in the pursuit of truth in defending the Electoral Act culminated in the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court in September 2026.
“Without INEC joining and pursuing this all-important disputed fact of law, we wouldn’t have had basis in our litigations with regards to the disputed imposition of candidates in Abia Central.”
Giving background to the dispute, the coordinator alleged that the candidates who participated in the Abia Central primary election of the party included Ogbonna Abaraukwu and Blessing Ugbo, but expressed surprise that Senator Nkechi Nwogu was later published as candidate.
He said, “During the primaries, we saw names like Ogbonna Abaraukwu and Blessing Ugbo and judging by what happened during the primary, we know that Abaraukwu won the primary. We were surprised that we now saw the name of Senator Nkechi Nwogu being published as candidate.”
He alleged that Nwogu had participated in the APC Abia Central Senatorial primaries held on May 18, 2026, before emerging as NDC candidate in the primary conducted on May 29, 2026.
He said, “It is wonderful that you now see her emerging from a primary conducted by NDC on the 29th of May, about 11 days after the primary of APC.”
He urged INEC to sustain fairness and equal opportunity in the electoral process.
“We are praying that they should keep to what they have done and do more. We want fairness. We want equal opportunity”, he said.
The NDC Abia Central Senatorial district aspirant Abaraukwu said the group was at INEC to congratulate the commission for defending democracy.
Abaraukwu, “The Supreme Courtcame out and said you don’t run for primaries in a party for a specific office and within about 10 days you defect to another party and run again for office. The Electoral Act is very clear that for you to run in a primary, your name must be in the party register submitted to INEC.”
According to him, the party was advised against fielding the candidate, but it refused to listen.
Abaraukwu expressed the hope that INEC would review their complaint and escalate it to its national headquarters.
He commended supporters of the movement for their grassroots support, describing them as sincere supporters who believe in equitable representation.