A House of Representatives aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency of Delta State, Julius Akbovoka, has petitioned the party’s National Executive Committee to ensure transparency in the handling of the outcome of its primary election.
Akbovoka disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja, saying the results recorded at the various voting centres should be reflected in the final outcome of the exercise.
The appeal comes days after the NDC distanced itself from various results of its nationwide primaries circulating on social media.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, urged the public to disregard the results, insisting that only the National Executive Council was authorised to announce the outcome of the primaries conducted on May 28 and 29.
The aspirant said he decided to address journalists because he had yet to receive official confirmation of the primary election result from the party.
He explained that he joined the NDC on April 30 and actively participated in the party’s activities, including its convention and membership registration exercise.
“I am not asking anybody to alter figures in my favour. My appeal is that the results recorded during the exercise should be properly reviewed and treated in accordance with the party’s rules and procedures,” he said.
The aspirant also revealed that he had consulted with former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, over the matter.
According to him, both leaders advised him to continue engaging the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
Akbovoka expressed confidence in his grassroots support and urged the NDC leadership to uphold transparency, fairness and internal democracy.
According to him, he mobilised thousands of members into the party across the constituency and later purchased the expression of interest form to contest for the House of Representatives seat.
Akbovoka, a former local government chairman, said he was screened and cleared by the party before participating in the primary election conducted across the three local government areas that make up the constituency.
Presenting figures he claimed were obtained from the voting centres, Akbovoka said he scored the highest number of votes cast during the exercise.
The aspirant said he polled 1,205 votes in Ughelli North against 205 votes by his closest rival, while in Ughelli South, he secured 350 votes compared to 285 votes recorded by another contestant.
He also insisted that the election was conducted in the presence of security personnel and party officials, adding that he had documents and reports supporting the figures recorded during the exercise.
