APC Calls on INEC to Reconsider Reported Candidature of Ifeanyi Elvis Ogbonna for Ohafia/Arochukwu Federal Constituency
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken note of the emergence of Mr. Ifeanyi Elvis Ogbonna as the reported candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Ohafia/Arochukwu Federal Constituency. We therefore consider it necessary to draw the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to matters concerning his membership and participation in the nomination processes of two political parties.
According to our records, Mr. Ogbonna’s name is listed in the membership register of the All Progressives Congress submitted to INEC on 10 May 2026, the deadline for the submission of membership registers by all political parties, and we have no record of his resignation from the APC before the relevant deadline for the submission of party membership registers.
Mr. Ogbonna obtained the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms and participated in the APC primary election for the House of Representatives seat for Ohafia/Arochukwu Federal Constituency held on 16 May 2026, where he polled 648 votes, placing sixth in the contest, at which Barrister Hagler Okorie served as Collation Officer.
His emergence as the NDC candidate for the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency election raises fundamental questions requiring clarification by the appropriate electoral authorities on how Mr. Ogbonna emerged as a candidate of another political party during the same electoral cycle.
Mindful of the constitutional requirement governing membership and sponsorship for election to the National Assembly, Section 65(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides that a person seeking election to the Senate or House of Representatives must be a member of a political party and be sponsored by that political party.
The Electoral Act 2026 also regulates political-party membership and nomination. In particular, Section 77 requires every registered political party to maintain a digital register of its members and provides that the register is to be made available to INEC within the statutory period preceding party primaries, congresses or conventions. The Act further provides that only persons whose names appear in the applicable party register are eligible to vote or be voted for at party primaries.
Also, Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2026 governs the nomination of candidates by political parties and the conduct of party primaries, while the Act gives INEC powers to monitor political-party activities and seek clarification where necessary.
The APC therefore requests INEC to establish, from the official records in its custody, whether Mr. Ogbonna was qualified to participate in the primary election of another political party within the same election season while still a duly registered member of the APC, and whether his nomination by the NDC complied with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and applicable INEC regulations and guidelines.
The APC believes that questions concerning the eligibility and nomination of Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Elvis Ogbonna as the candidate of the NDC should be reviewed in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC regulations, and verifiable documentary records.
We call on INEC to conduct the necessary verification and act accordingly in accordance with the law.
Signed:
Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC, Abia State
