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The Delta Central senatorial primary election of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State was on Thursday thrown into confusion and controversy following allegations of irregularities, manipulation, and exclusion of delegates, as one of the leading aspirants, Prof. Alexander Akpodiete, rejected the outcome and demanded a fresh primary.
Daily Independent learnt this on Friday, May 29, 2026, from Prof. Alexander Osondu Akpodiete, soon after the NDC Primaries for Delta Central Senatorial Seat 2027, as he accused NDC Officials of alleged exclusion of delegates, vote manipulation, and discrepancies in Ughelli North during the NDC election.
Prof Akpodiete, who protested the conduct of the exercise shortly after the manipulative declaration of results, alleged that the Option A-4 voting process was compromised in favour of another aspirant, accusing party officials of refusing to count his supporters despite their visible presence at the venue.
Addressing journalists and supporters after the exercise, the visibly angry aspirant said he and his supporters arrived at the venue as early as 8:30 a.m. but alleged that the process was deliberately delayed until about 2:15 p.m. when, according to him, Omo-Agege showed up, and they suddenly decided to begin the exercise.
According to him, “The process lacked transparency and fairness, insisting that many of his supporters who lined up openly behind him during the Option A-4 arrangement were ignored during the counting”.
“We have been here, my people and my supporters, since 8:30 this morning, and the officials did not do anything”.
“They claimed they were waiting for electoral materials. Around 2:15 pm, when the other aspirant showed up, the officials said let’s start and the supporters that queued behind me were not counted, despite my protest.”
The professor, who further accused some elements within the party of importing what he described as some style of rigging and corruption into the NDC, lamented that the development has disappointed many genuine party members and supporters across the Delta Central Senatorial District.
Speaking further, he said: “They brought APC, rigging, and corruption into NDC, and it is very disappointing. We are going to challenge it because we are very dissatisfied”.
“This is really a sad day for Nigerians, a sad day for Delta Central, a sad day for the Urhobo people. A lot of people here are not going to vote for NDC in the general election because of what happened today”.
“The credibility crisis that emanated from the disputed primary had already weakened confidence among party loyalists as many supporters now see the NDC as no different from the major political parties it previously criticized”.
“We have now become a party that is no different from PDP or APC or whatever. We can only say we are very disappointed”.
He then called on the leadership of the party to urgently intervene. Prof. Akpodiete demanded the immediate cancellation of the exercise and the conduct of a fresh primary election that would be transparent, credible, and acceptable to all aspirants and stakeholders.
He also insisted that individuals who recently defected into the party should not be allowed to participate in the primary process, maintaining that only longstanding members who joined before May 6 should be recognised.
He said, “The party needs to correct the situation; they need to do another primary and not allow people who just decamped into the party to participate. If you are not a member of the party since May 6, you should not be in the primary”.
“This injustice could negatively affect the fortunes of the party in future elections.”
Supporters of the aspirant who gathered at the venue echoed similar concerns, alleging that the announced figures did not correspond with the actual number of persons who queued during the voting process.
