NDC OHAJI-EGBEMA/OGUTA/ORU-WEST FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY PRIMARIES: BARR. CHUDI EGWE WINS OHAJI-EGBEMA, AWAITS FINAL OUTCOME AS ORU-WEST RESULTS ARE BEING COLLATED
By Bede Nnamdi Onyewuchi
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
Hon. (Barr.) Chudi Egwe Evans, one of the leading aspirants seeking the House of Representatives ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/Oru-West Federal Constituency, has emerged victorious in the party's primary election conducted in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
The Federal Constituency, which comprises Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, and Oru-West Local Government Areas, is one of the most politically significant constituencies in Imo State due to its strategic position as an oil-producing region and its influence in the state's political landscape.
According to the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Victor Azugwu, the primary election was successfully conducted on May 28, 2026, at Mmahu in Ohaji-Egbema LGA. The exercise reportedly witnessed the participation of party members and delegates across the area.
The results released by the party chairman showed that Barr. Chudi Egwe Evans secured a landslide victory with 4,521 votes. His closest rival, Stanley Nwakamma Orum, polled eight votes, while Okoroma Chioma Happiness received seven votes. Onunaka Uchenwoke Richard and Ohamara Anthony Okechukwu scored six votes each, while Onumajuru Leonard Daniel and Ekwueme Chifurunnaya Uzoamaka recorded five votes apiece.
The outcome further strengthens Barr. Egwe's position in the race for the party's ticket as attention shifts to the remaining local government areas within the federal constituency.
Meanwhile, in Oru-West Local Government Area, the party's LGA Chairman, Pastor Chris Obiefule, confirmed that the collation of results was ongoing at the time of filing this report. Party stakeholders and supporters across the constituency are awaiting the official declaration of the Oru-West results, which could significantly influence the overall outcome of the primary process.
In Oguta Local Government Area, however, the primary election was reportedly marred by controversy as party sources disclosed that voting did not take place due to circumstances yet to be officially explained by the local party leadership.
The development has generated concern among party members and supporters, with allegations emerging over the conduct of some officials involved in the electoral process.
A party chieftain who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the Oguta LGA Chairman and certain party officials failed to appear at the designated collation centre and later announced results that allegedly favoured one of the aspirants.
According to the source, "We all gathered at the LGA Collation Centre to be counted, but couldn't see the LGA Party Chairman and his representatives.
"This was painful to the supporters of the aspirants. But from the information allegedly available to us, supporters of Barr. Chudi Egwe Evans (Chudification) appeared to be more in number than those of other aspirants. With the alleged bias of the LGA Chairman, Mr. Okechukwu Omana, who was leaning towards Mr. Stanley Nwakamma Orum, they were afraid that Orum could not stand Barr. Chudi Egwe Evans in the direct primary (Option A4), which was the method adopted by the party since no aspirant stepped down for another.
"Barr. Chudi Egwe Evans appeared to be the preferred choice of many voters around, and they allegedly left the venue and went elsewhere to write results in favour of Orum."
The source further claimed that the alleged actions of the officials contradicted established party procedures and electoral guidelines governing the conduct of primary elections.
As of the time of this report, the officials mentioned in the allegations had not publicly responded to the claims, while the party's state leadership had yet to issue an official statement on the controversy surrounding the Oguta exercise.
Political observers within the constituency believe that the emerging disputes may require urgent intervention by the NDC leadership to preserve party unity and ensure the credibility of its internal democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Stakeholders have also called on the party to thoroughly investigate the allegations and ensure that any final decision reflects the wishes of party members while adhering strictly to the provisions of the party's constitution and the electoral guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
With the Ohaji-Egbema result already declared and Oru-West results still being awaited, attention now turns to the party leadership, whose actions in the coming days are expected to determine the final direction of the NDC's House of Representatives ticket for the Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/Oru-West Federal Constituency.
