No Primary Produced Ossai, NDC Enugu Secretary Tells Court Challenger

…Says INEC Records Show Dr. Chika Obetta as Party’s Candidate

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The Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Enugu State, Dr. Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor, has described the legal action taken by an alleged illegal candidate of the party in Enugu North Senatorial District, Bishop Oscar Ossai, as an exercise in futility, saying he cannot challenge what does not exist.

Dr. Okafor described the suit filed by the self acclaimed candidate of the party as dead on arrival, insisting that there was no primary election that produced him, let alone the person being published by the national leadership of the party through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday over reports that Bishop Ossai had filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the substitution of his name by the party, Dr. Okafor said the highest bidder and the smartest got published by INEC, even when there was no primary election that produced them.

He stated that, based on available INEC reports of the primary election conducted in the state, Dr. Chika Obetta is the candidate of the party, and it is only a matter of time before the court delivers its judgment.

According to him, “You cannot challenge what does not exist. There was no primary election that produced Bishop Ossai. INEC reports remain important in establishing what transpired, and democracy must begin from within the political party.”

Dr. Okafor wondered why Bishop Ossai, who he alleged was part of the group that sidelined a democratically elected state executive of the party led by Dr. Johnpaul Anih, just to satisfy their political interests, would be seeking justice over what never existed, stressing that those who participated in actions that allegedly undermined the democratically elected state executive could not turn around to seek justice when the same process affected their interests.

Dr. Okafor also stated that the national leadership of the party had gradually killed the party in Enugu State through what he described as undemocratic ways of handling its affairs, an act he said has left the party in shambles.

“Undemocratic practices can only weaken the party, while party members deserve transparency and fairness. Political ambition must not override due process.”

He also praised the doggedness of the NDC G 80 aggrieved aspirants, who, he said, saw the truth and decided to pitch their tent with truth and democracy.

“The G 80 aspirants chose truth and democracy. Their position shows that there are still party members who are prepared to stand for what is right, even when doing so may not serve their immediate political interests,” he said.

Dr. Okafor said the development had further exposed the need for genuine internal democracy, transparency and respect for the wishes of party members, stressing that political parties could only remain relevant when their internal processes were credible and candidates emerged through properly conducted primaries rather than arbitrary decisions.

He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and committed to the principles of justice and democracy, stressing that the current situation should serve as a lesson to the party leadership on the importance of respecting due process and the legitimate structures of the party.

“The crisis in Enugu NDC requires urgent attention. The party must return to democratic principles. If the party is to regain the confidence of its members and the people, its leadership must ensure that internal democracy, transparency and due process are respected. All these people parading themselves as candidates had no primary election that produced them, which INEC has clarified. So, they cannot claim legitimacy or seek to benefit from a process that never produced them in the first place, as the law cannot validate what did not occur.”