The National Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the South-East zone, Mr Teddy Obe, has strongly dismissed allegations that party leaders threatened the life of a House of Representatives candidate and demanded financial gratification to secure his ticket.
Mr Obe issued the denial following claims made by Mr Ceejay Henry Ezebuiro, the party’s candidate for the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in Imo State. Mr Ezebuiro had alleged that certain high-ranking officials within the political platform engaged in intimidation and demanded the sum of N150 million to ensure his candidacy remained intact.
Reacting to the claims detailed in recent media reports, Mr Obe described the accusations as entirely false, baseless and designed to drag the reputation of the party leadership into disrepute. He maintained that the party operates under strict internal democratic principles and does not condone extortion, threats or unlawful demands of any kind from its candidates.
Internal Party Tensions Ahead of Elections
The exchange between the regional party chieftain and the federal constituency candidate highlights underlying tensions within opposition structures in Imo State as political parties prepare for upcoming electoral contests. Internal disputes over ticket retention and campaign financing have frequently sparked public disagreements between aspirants and state or zonal leadership cadres across various political formations in Nigeria.
Mr Obe challenged the candidate to provide concrete proof of the alleged threats and financial demands rather than resorting to public allegations that could destabilise the party’s unity within the South-East zone. He insisted that the leadership remains focused on building a formidable structure capable of winning elections rather than engaging in petty controversies.
As the political parties navigate candidate selection processes and campaign preparations, the development leaves unresolved questions regarding party cohesion in the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency. Neither the Imo State chapter of the party nor independent electoral authorities have issued further formal statements regarding the dispute.
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