Isaac Nwachukwu, a senatorial aspirant for Imo North, has taken the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Federal High Court in Owerri over what he described as denial of his party ticket.
The case followed the outcome of the party’s National Assembly primaries, which he claims did not reflect his status as the consensus candidate of the party in the zone.
Through his lawyer, Cajethan Oguzie, Nwachukwu said he was unfairly denied the ticket despite purchasing the nomination form for N5 million and making a financial contribution of N20 million in support of the party. He claimed that part of his contribution was later reduced in a published list, while another aspirant’s figure was allegedly credited to him.
He told the court that after going through the party’s screening process, he was cleared and later confirmed as a consensus candidate. However, he alleged that his name was later removed and replaced with another aspirant after he had already been declared winner in the primaries.
In his court request, he asked the court to recognise him as the rightful candidate of the party for Imo North senatorial district and stop the NDC from presenting any other person for the election. He also asked the court to restrain INEC from accepting or recognising any other candidate apart from him pending the final determination of the case.
In his supporting affidavit, he stated that he followed all party rules, participated in screening, and was initially listed as the candidate before the alleged substitution. He also linked the dispute to internal party decisions that affected his nomination.
Nwachukwu is also seeking an order directing the party to issue him a certificate of return as its candidate for the senatorial election while the matter is being resolved in court.