NDC Candidate, Ezebuiro Alleges Conspiracy To Revoke Ticket

Sir Ceejay Henry Ezebuiro, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election in the Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, has alleged a covert scheme by the national leadership of the party to revoke his candidacy.

During a press briefing in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, on Saturday, Ezebuiro provided detailed accounts of efforts being made to displace him, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having published the final list of candidates for the National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.

Ezebuiro commended the new Electoral Act of 2026 for rendering it impossible to illegally alter candidates after INEC has uploaded their names on its portal, based on the monitored results of primary elections.

He stated that the Electoral Act, which mandates the electoral authority to upload the names of primary election winners, empowers even individuals from humble backgrounds who succeed in primary elections to maintain their positions against attempts at replacement.

The NDC candidate revealed that certain party leaders had approached him with demands for monetary inducements if he wished to retain his ticket.

He disclosed that three of these leaders (names withheld) extorted a total of N50 million from him, while another group later sought a gratification of N150 million.

At that time, he was unaware that INEC had already uploaded his name as the candidate based on the results of the May 28, 2026 primary election.

Ezebuiro expressed that had he known, he would not have relinquished the N50 million to the three leaders, one of whom is from Imo State.

Furthermore, he indicated that the national leadership of the party has not ceased their efforts following his refusal to meet their demand for N150 million.

He recounted being advised during a meeting to plead with a former governor, one of the leaders, to allow him to represent the party.

Ezebuiro noted that during this meeting, a senatorial ticket was granted to the former governor, despite the fact that his chosen candidate did not participate in the primary election.

He added that the former governor categorically refused to permit him to carry the party’s flag for the House of Representatives.

The Ndiuche Izuogu indigene also stated that some party leaders have sought legal recourse in their attempts to reclaim the ticket.

He alleged that these leaders have devised plans to threaten his life should their court efforts fail.

Ezebuiro, who remains resolute that they cannot take his life, urged the public to hold the national leaders of the party accountable for any potential threats to his safety.

The candidate wondered how the NDC could bring the necessary change in the country if all the ills people complain about are present in the party.

According to him, a member of the National Working Committee of the party, who was a squatter prior to Mr. Peter Obi’s entry into the party, is currently living in significant luxury as a result of extorting party candidates.

He indicated that the implicated NWC member has extortion-related allegations pending against him; however, he is being protected from prosecution by influential entities.

Furthermore, he reasoned that extortion practices are pervasive in the South East, potentially aimed at undermining the party’s strength in the region.