A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Sylvester Ugochinyere Eze, has accused Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa and other party leaders of abandoning the NDC candidate in the Enugu North senatorial district bye-election held on June 20, 2024, alleging widespread rigging and lack of party support contributed to the loss. The bye-election, which saw Bishop Oscar Okwudili Ossai represent the NDC, was contested by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, and Eze claims the outcome was manipulated due to inadequate party backing and collusion by election officials.
Chief Eze, speaking in Nsukka on Wednesday, stated that despite the short campaign period, Ossai should have received stronger support from key party figures, especially Ohaa, who is considered a leading contender for the NDC’s governorship ticket. He noted that Ohaa was not seen in the Nsukka zone during the critical days leading up to the election, including the June 18 mega rally where Peter Obi was expected to speak. Eze emphasized that Ossai needed visible endorsements from prominent NDC leaders to gain traction, but instead, the APC candidate enjoyed backing from Government House and access to unlimited resources.
He further alleged that on the eve of the election, Ohaa convened a meeting in Enugu that drew all NDC aspirants, effectively removing them from the Nsukka campaign ground. Eze suggested this was a deliberate move to undermine Ossai’s chances, questioning whether Ohaa’s actions were aligned with party interests or those of his APC allies. He added that Ohaa’s absence during the election could have allowed the APC to carry out rigging activities, including thumb-printing of ballot papers and diversion of result sheets on Friday night, which went unchecked.
Eze criticized the conduct of the election, describing it as a charade. He claimed that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad-hoc officials were largely APC members, and security agencies like the police, forest guards, and civil defence were complicit in ensuring APC victory. He pointed out that manual voting was used throughout the area, with no Biometric Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) visible in his ward, raising concerns about the authenticity of results. “Without BVAS accreditation, why won’t they post fictitious results?” he asked.
Speaking about his ward, Ejuona/Uwani in Nsukka Local Government Area, Eze revealed that many residents were unaware of the election, and only a few people actually turned out to vote. Yet, he noted, official results showed over 5,000 votes from just 17 polling units in his ward, which he called “miracles.” He questioned the legitimacy of the 163,000 votes reportedly secured by the APC candidate, calling for transparency and accountability in future elections.
As the NDC prepares for upcoming gubernatorial elections, Eze’s comments highlight growing internal tensions and concerns over leadership commitment and electoral integrity within the party. The outcome of the Enugu North bye-election may influence voter trust and party cohesion in the lead-up to the 2025 general elections.
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