Julius Efeni Akbovoka, a House of Representatives aspirant for the NDC in Delta State, has demanded that the party leadership ensure transparency in the handling of its primary election for Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Akbovoka said he has yet to receive official confirmation of the final result from the party, despite participating in the primaries after purchasing his expression of interest form. He resigned from his former political party on April 30 to join the NDC and subsequently mobilised thousands of new members into the party across the constituency.
Akbovoka presented figures he claimed were obtained from voting centres during the May 28 and 29 primaries. According to him, he scored 1,205 votes in Ughelli North, 350 votes in Ughelli South, and 283 votes in Udu Local Government Area, totalling 1,838 votes. He said his closest rival scored 205 votes in Ughelli North, 285 votes in Ughelli South, and 305 votes in Udu, giving the rival a total of 795 votes.
A former councillor and local government official, Akbovoka said he was screened alongside other aspirants based on capacity, competence and character before being cleared to contest. He 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.
"I am not asking anybody to alter figures in my favour," he said. "My appeal is that the results recorded during the exercise should be properly reviewed and treated in line with the party's rules."
Akbovoka has submitted a petition to the party's appeal committee seeking a review of the results. He said he 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.
The NDC leadership had not responded to the allegations at the time of this report. Tension has continued to rise among aspirants as the party prepares to announce official results of its nationwide primaries.
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. The party's final list of candidates is expected to be announced following the NEC meeting.
