A senatorial aspirant for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Abia Central Senatorial District, Blessing Ugbo, has initiated legal proceedings against her party, claiming she was unjustly denied the senatorial ticket despite winning the primary election.

Ugbo, who hails from the Obakala clan in Umuahia South Local Government Area, stated that she participated fully in the party's primary election and was surprised to learn that the ticket was awarded to Senator Nkechi Nwogu, who she alleges did not take part in the primary process. She emphasized that Nwogu is still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which raises questions about her eligibility to represent the NDC.

In a detailed account of her candidacy, Ugbo revealed that she purchased the Expression of Interest form on May 13, 2026, and underwent screening on May 20, 2026, where she was the only aspirant from Abia Central present. She asserted that she answered all questions posed by the screening panel, chaired by former Governor Sam Egwu, satisfactorily.

The primary election, originally scheduled for May 28, was postponed to May 29 due to logistical issues. Ugbo claimed she was actively involved in the election process, deploying agents across the five local government areas that comprise Abia Central and branding materials to support her campaign. She contended that she won in several local government areas, including Umuahia South and Ikwuano, and has video evidence to substantiate her claims.

However, Ugbo alleged that there were significant irregularities during the primary, including a lack of a designated venue for Isiala Ngwa South and a last-minute change of venue in Osisioma, where no primary election was conducted. She expressed her dismay upon arriving in Abuja on May 30 to discover that Nwogu had been declared the candidate through a consensus agreement, despite her not having withdrawn from the race.

"I never withdrew from the race. There is no evidence that I withdrew. There is evidence that I contested and won," Ugbo stated, insisting that for a consensus to be valid, all contestants must formally withdraw in writing, which she did not do.

In her pursuit of justice, Ugbo has taken her case to the Federal High Court, where a hearing was initially scheduled for September 21 but has now been adjourned to October 8. She believes that the mandate she received from the people of Abia Central should not be disregarded, especially as she alleges that the party is still establishing itself and may have made procedural errors.

The NDC's Publicity Secretary in Abia State, Emeka Lious, has been approached for a statement regarding the allegations but has not yet responded as of the time of this report. The outcome of Ugbo's legal challenge could have significant implications for the NDC as it navigates its early political landscape in Nigeria.