A chairmanship aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Michael Odoh, has accused the party leadership of illegally imposing candidates ahead of the forthcoming FCT Area Council elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Odoh alleged that despite following all due processes to contest the primaries, he was denied the opportunity to participate in a fair contest. He claimed that the party leadership imposed another aspirant, allegedly backed by Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and Senator Ireti Kingibe.
According to him, candidates who had already won their primaries were compelled to step down at a meeting held on August 22 at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, where several aspirants were reportedly replaced with “anointed candidates.”
“The party deposited guidelines with INEC stating that candidates must emerge through primaries, yet those guidelines were abandoned,” Odoh said, describing the process as both illegitimate and illegal.
Citing Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates all political parties to conduct primaries monitored by INEC, Odoh insisted that the actions of the party were a violation of the law. He disclosed that his legal team had petitioned the party leadership without receiving a response and announced plans to challenge the imposition in court.
Odoh further alleged that intimidation and threats were used to silence aspirants, noting that the imposition extended beyond the chairmanship slot to councillorship positions. He urged his supporters to remain calm, emphasizing that his fight was not against individuals but against impunity.
“It is a sad irony that those who claim to fight for democracy in public are the same ones destroying it in private,” Odoh said, calling on Nigerians to resist undemocratic practices within political parties.
He vowed to pursue the case legally to defend democracy and ensure that the will of the people prevails
