A fresh internal crisis has emerged in the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress over its choice of candidate for the Anaocha 1 State Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.
The dispute centres on two party members, Nkechi Ogbuefi and Azubuike Okoye, who are both laying claim to the NDC ticket for the constituency. Punch Newspaper reports that Ogbuefi, the incumbent lawmaker and Deputy Minority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, insists she was duly nominated after participating in the party’s screening and primary election.
Ogbuefi alleged that Okoye did not purchase the party’s nomination form, undergo screening or participate in the primary election, yet has been presenting himself as the party’s candidate.
She said she had remained with Peter Obi through his political movement from the Labour Party to the NDC and maintained that her return as the candidate followed the party’s internal process.
The controversy is particularly significant because Anaocha 1 is the constituency represented by the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, making the dispute one of the early tests of the party’s ability to manage internal competition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The disagreement could also create uncertainty among party supporters and voters in the constituency if the NDC fails to resolve the competing claims before the electoral process advances.
With political parties already positioning themselves for the 2027 elections, the development highlights the challenges that can arise from nomination and ticket allocation as parties seek to select candidates for legislative and executive positions.
