NDC Primary: Returning Officer Disowns Alleged Result, Declares Obue Winner in Awka South Constituency II

By Tony Okafor, Awka

Fresh controversy has erupted over the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primary election for Awka South Constituency II (Obizi) as the returning officer for the exercise, Engr. Prof. Paul Chukwulozie Onyeabor Okolie, has publicly disowned a result being circulated in connection with the poll, describing it as false and fraudulent.

In a letter dated June 3, 2026, and addressed to the leadership of the party in Abuja, Prof. Okolie stated that a purported result for the Awka South Constituency II primary, which he allegedly did not sign, was being circulated in place of what he described as the authentic outcome of the exercise.

The university don, who said he served as the duly appointed returning officer for the NDC Awka South Local Government primaries held on May 29, 2026, at Umuzocha Hall, Awka, insisted that the election was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner under his supervision.

According to him, the primary elections covered the presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly contests, with an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) representative present to observe the process.

Prof. Okolie maintained that the authentic result of the Awka South Constituency II House of Assembly primary showed Chinedu Raymond Obue polling 625 votes to defeat Sam Chuks Okpanduka, who secured 73 votes.

He stressed that the result was duly signed by him as returning officer and reflected the true wishes of the delegates and party members who participated in the exercise.

“It has come to my attention that a result for Awka South Constituency II (Obizi), which I did not sign, has been circulated in place of the authentic result. Such a document is false, fraudulent and does not emanate from me,” he stated.

The returning officer warned that any result that did not contain the figures announced by him or failed to affirm Obue as the winner should be disregarded by the party.

He further threatened legal action against any aspirant or individual found to have forged his signature or associated him with documents he did not endorse.

“As an academic and one who values integrity, I will not sit and watch injustice perpetrated with my name. Any result not bearing the figures above and not affirming Chinedu Raymond Obue as the winner is fake and fraudulent,” he said.

Prof. Okolie also urged the NDC leadership to uphold what he described as the authentic result of the primary election and resist any attempt to compromise the wishes of delegates.

According to him, failure to do so could erode confidence in the party and undermine its stated mission of providing alternative leadership for the country.