By Ijeoma John, Nnewi
Aspirant for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Representatives ticket for Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Amb. Lotanna Ikebunwa, has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to declare him the winner of the party’s primary election, insisting that he secured the highest number of votes cast during the exercise.
Speaking through his media team, Ikebunwa urged the party leadership to uphold what he described as the mandate freely given to him by party members during the May 29, 2026 primary election.
He alleged that officials deployed to conduct the primary election compromised the process by aligning with interests determined to frustrate the will of party members after it became evident that he enjoyed overwhelming support across the constituency.
According to him, available video evidence purportedly shows how the electoral process was manipulated after it became clear that his popularity had surpassed that of his opponents in the three local government areas that make up the federal constituency.
He said he was prepared to present the evidence before the appropriate party authorities to ensure justice prevails, stressing that the party’s mantra of service to the people should not permit it to disregard the wishes of members who came out in large numbers to vote for him.
Ikebunwa further dismissed reports that some aspirants who participated in the primary election were being encouraged to purchase nomination forms, describing such claims as contrary to the principles upon which the party was founded. He maintained that those being considered did not possess the mandate of the people and would be unable to win the election for the party in Nnewi Federal Constituency.
He stated that he secured over 1,000 votes in Nnewi North Local Government Area and 503 votes in Nnewi South Local Government Area, while alleging that the vote-counting process in Ekwusigo Local Government Area was disrupted before completion, even though 59 votes were allocated to him. He said he possesses video evidence to support the claim.
“I scored far above 1000 In Nnewi North, and party members stood by me and voted for me, while I secured 503 votes in Nnewi South. In Ekwusigo, the counting process was not concluded on my line, and the mandate of the people was deliberately truncated when it became clear that I was also leading there,” he said.
The NDC aspirant maintained that the outcome of the primary election reflected the true wishes of party members, stressing that many supporters were dissatisfied with the process of it’s truncation by his opponents.
He therefore urged the party’s National Working Committee to announce him as the rightful winner based on the votes cast.
“We are waiting for the Nigeria Democratic Congress to submit my name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) so that my name can be published as the winner of the primary election. The National Working Committee of the NDC should do the right thing by recognising and announcing the aspirant who won the election. Any arrangement aimed at imposing a candidate who did not secure the majority of votes will be challenged through legitimate channels,” he stated.
He called on the leadership of the NDC to protect the integrity of the party’s internal democratic process by ensuring that the aspirant who secured the highest number of votes emerges as the party’s flag bearer for the forthcoming House of Representatives election.
As of press time, the National Working Committee of the Nigeria Democratic Congress had not issued an official response to the allegations.
