By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — A House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Julius Efeni Akbovoka, has called on the party leadership to ensure transparency and strict adherence to due process in the handling of the party’s primary election for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency of Delta State.
Akbovoka, speaking to journalists in Abuja, urged the party to faithfully reflect the outcome of the primaries as recorded at various voting centres, insisting that he had yet to receive official confirmation of the final result.
He said his decision to address the media was informed by the need for clarity regarding the outcome of the exercise and compliance with party guidelines.
The aspirant disclosed that he resigned from his former political party on April 30 and joined the NDC, after which he actively participated in party programmes, including its convention and nationwide membership registration exercise.
He stated that his team mobilised thousands of new members into the party across the constituency and participated in the primaries after purchasing the required expression of interest form.
A former councillor and local government official, Akbovoka said he was screened alongside other aspirants based on criteria such as capacity, competence and character before being cleared to contest.
He presented figures he said were obtained from voting centres, claiming he scored 1,205 votes in Ughelli North, 350 votes in Ughelli South, and 283 votes in Udu Local Government Area.
He added that his closest rival scored 205 votes in Ughelli North, 285 votes in Ughelli South and 305 votes in Udu, giving him a total of 1,840 votes against 560.
Akbovoka maintained that the primary election was conducted in the presence of security personnel and party officials, and said he possesses documents backing the results he presented.
Despite his claims, he said the party has not formally communicated its final position on the election.
He disclosed that he had submitted a petition to the party’s appeal committee seeking a review of the results and urged the leadership to ensure compliance with party rules.
“I am not asking anybody to alter figures in my favour. My appeal is that the results recorded during the exercise should be properly reviewed and treated in line with the party’s rules,” he said.
The aspirant also said he had consulted prominent party leaders, including former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, who advised him to pursue internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
Meanwhile, the NDC leadership had yet to respond to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
Tension has continued to rise among aspirants as the party prepares to announce official results of its nationwide primaries conducted on May 28 and 29.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, had earlier urged members of the public to disregard unauthorised results circulating on social media, insisting that only the National Executive Council (NEC) has authority to release official outcomes.
According to him, a NEC meeting has been scheduled in Abuja, with final decisions on candidates expected to be communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after due collation and verification.
Party insiders say the delay is aimed at ensuring accuracy and resolving disputes arising from the primaries, as aspirants await the final list of candidates.
