A House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mrs Nkasiobi Madumere, has accused party officials of disenfranchising her during the party’s primary election for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency held on May 29, 2026.
Addressing journalists in Umuahia on Wednesday, Madumere alleged that she was deliberately excluded from the counting process despite being duly cleared to participate in the exercise.
The aspirant, who said she was the only female contender in the race, expressed disappointment over what she described as unfair treatment and gender-based discrimination during the primaries.
Madumere explained that she joined the contest after receiving encouragement from party members and supporters who believed in her vision for effective representation and good governance.
She noted that after purchasing her nomination form, she successfully underwent screening and was cleared by the party to contest.
According to her, she mobilised supporters across Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano Local Government Areas, which make up the federal constituency, ahead of the primary election.
She, however, alleged that the conduct of the exercise was marred by irregularities, including late communication of venues, delays in the arrival of party officials and multiple changes of election locations.
Madumere said the venue for the Umuahia South primary was communicated only in the early hours of the election day and was subsequently moved from the Civic Centre in Olokoro to Olokoro Primary School after supporters had already assembled.
She further alleged that the delayed arrival of party and election officials caused many of her supporters to leave before voting commenced.
The aspirant said: “I was physically present throughout the exercise in the Umuahia South LGA venue for the exercise which is Olokoro Primary School, unlike some other aspirants who were represented by agents.
“However, when it got to my turn, the delegates allegedly turned away without counting me or my supporters”.
Madumere described the incident as a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise her, claiming that supporters of her male counterparts were counted while hers were ignored.
She also alleged that similar incidents occurred in Umuahia North and Ikwuano Local Government Areas, insisting that her supporters across the constituency were excluded from the process.
The aspirant disclosed that she had submitted petitions to the party’s Appeal Committee, National Chairman and other relevant organs of the party, seeking redress over the outcome of the exercise.
While maintaining that she was not playing gender politics, Madumere argued that the circumstances surrounding the primaries amounted to discrimination against women seeking elective office.
She called on the national leadership of the NDC to investigate the conduct of the primaries in Abia State, alleging that several irregularities undermined the credibility of the exercise.
According to her, restoring confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes would require a thorough review of the actions of officials involved in organising the primaries.
Madumere also urged the party leadership to ensure justice and fairness for all aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that women should not be discouraged from seeking elective positions through actions that undermine confidence in the democratic process.
Reacting to the allegations through a telephone interview with journalists, the Abia State Secretary of the NDC, Mr Kanu Dike, appealed for calm among party members and urged them to allow the party’s internal mechanisms to address grievances arising from the primaries.
He disclosed that the party’s Appeal Panel and the National Executive Committee were already considering petitions submitted following the recently concluded primaries.
Dike added that the party leadership would announce its decisions after reviewing all valid complaints brought before it.
“For now, every loyal party member must remain patient and await the verdict of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
“Every loyal party member should allow the party processes to run their course and wait for the outcome”, Dike said.
